
G P 



EXPERIENCE 



GOSPEL LABOURS 



REV. BENJAMIN ABBOTT; 



TO WHICH IS ANNEXED 



x*. NARRATIVE OF HIS LIFE AND DEATH. 



BY JOHN FFIRTII. 



' Mark the perfect man, and behold the upriVht ; for the en£ 
of that man is peace," Psalm xxxvj, 37. 



NEW-YORK, 

PUBLISHED BY B. WAUGH AND T. MASON, 

For the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
at the Conference Office, 14 Crosby-street, 



J. Colloid, Printer. 

1833. 



\ 



-mm 



5 



jyrev Theol. «»• 

iArf X* 1908 



I 



PREFACE. 



The greater partofihe following work was 
written many years after i\*e occurrences took 
place ; and as Mr. Abbott's memory could not 
precisely ascertain the exact tub® of the occur- 
rences, they are consequently inserted without 
day or date. However, it is of no material 
consequence, whether an occurrence took place 
on a Monday or a Saturday ; whether in May 
or December, or in what particular year ; pro- 
vided that the relation thereof be true, and the 
subject be calculated to improve the mind and 
to promote virtue and religion. 

Could Mr. Abbott have given a relation of 
every meeting, and all the particular occurren- 
ces, with day and date, it would have swelled 
the work far beyond what he designed or wish- 
ed, and would have led him to a detail of many 
things of no importance. He only wished to 
relate the most material circumstances and oc- 
currences in his life, which he could perfectly 
recollect. The day and date not being men- 
tioned, is, in the opinion of the compiler, of no 
disadvantage to the work. 

Mr. Abbott, a short time before his death, put 
his manuscripts in possession of the compiler 
(John Ffirth) with a request that he would ar- 
range and revise them for publication : which 
he has endeavoured to perform to the best of 
his ability. Care has been taken not to ex- 



4 



PREFACE. 



punge any thing that might be ot utility ; and 
aiso to preserve the original, p^ain, simple ideas 
and language of the man. 

If some circumstances or occurrences do not 
stand exactly in that order of arrangement in 
which they occurred m point of time, the com- 
piler does not hold himself accountable for the 
error; and he hopes, that if such inaccuracy 
should appeal*, it will be held excusable in the 
judgment of every judicious and candid reader. 

The work is thrown into two parts : Part 
First contains his experience and Gospel la- 
bours, previous to his entering the itinerant 
connection of Methodist preachers ; during 
which time he visited various parts of New 
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Mary- 
land. Part Second contains his travels and 
Gospel labours after he entered the itinerant 
connection. 

The compiler had an intimate acquaintance 
with Mr. Abbott for about twenty years, and 
had knowledge of some things relative to that 
eminent saint of God (which were not men- 
tioned in his own manuscripts) which may be 
acceptable to the reader : he has, therefore, 
annexed to the work a narrative of the life and 
death of that extraordinary, zealous, faithful, and 
useful man. 

The Compiler. 



EXPERIENCE AND GOSPEL LABOURS 

OF THE 

REV. BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



PART FIRST. 

Containing his parentage, birth, marriage, and man- 
ner of life, while in nature's darkness — His conviction, 
conversion, and sanetification — His Gospel labours, and 
divers remarkable occurrences while a local preacher, 
till the death of his wife. 

My grandfather, James Abbott, was born in 
Somersetshire, in Great Britain. He removed 
to America, and settled on Long Island, where 
he married, and had five sons and two daugh- 
ters. My father, Benjamin Abbott, was his 
third son : when he arrived at age, he removed 
from Long Island to New Jersey, where he 
married the daughter of Mr. John Burroughs, 
sheriff of Hunterdon county. Afterward he 
removed again to Long Island, where he re- 
sided for some time, and had two sons and one 
daughter. After this he sold his farm, and 
moved into Pennsylvania, bought a plantation of 
four hundred acres of good land, and lived in 
credit, where he had three sons and one daughter 
more. My mother, when on her death bed, lay 
sick of a nervous complaint about five weeks. 
In the dead of the night, before she expired, she 
cried unto the Lord, and besought him to look 
in mercy upon the family, and with a loud voice 
prayed fervently for us all, which caused the spec- 
tators to wonder and to cry out, " Hannah, what 



6 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



is the matter with you?" Next day she departed 
this life. I then pondered these things in my heart. 

In six weeks after, my father took the small 
pox, and departed this life, leaving my grand- 
father executor. In his will he ordered that 
we should dl have trades ; accordingly I was 
put to a hatter in Philadelphia, where I soon fell 
into bad company, and from that to card play- 
ing, cock fighting, and many other evil practices. 
My master and I parted before my time was out, 
and I went into J ersey, and hired with one of 
my brothers, where I wrought at plantation 
work. Some time after this I married ; and 
when I got what my father had left me, I rented 
a farm, and followed that business ; but all this 
time I had no fear of God before my eyes, but 
lived in sin and open rebellion against God, in 
drinking, righting, swearing, gambling, &c ; 
yet I worked hard and got a comfortable living 
for my family. I professed myself a Presbyte- 
rian, went often to meeting, and many times the 
Spirit of God alarmed my guilty soul of its dan- 
ger ; but it as often wore off again. 

Thus I continued in a scene of sin, until the 
fortieth year of my age ; yet many were the 
promises I made during that period, to amend 
my life, but all to no purpose ; they were as 
often broken as made ; for as yet I never had 
heard the nature of conviction or conversion : 
it was a dark time respecting religion, and little 
or nothing ever said about experimental reli- 
gion ; and to my knowledge I never had heard 
either man or woman say that they had the par- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 7 

doning love of God in their souls, or knew their 
sins were forgiven. My wife was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and a praying woman ; yet 
at that time she knew nothing about a heart work. 

About the thirty-third year of my age, I 
dreamed that I died and was carried to hell, 
which appeared to me to be a large place, arch- 
• ed over, containing three apartments with arched 
doors to go from one apartment to another. — 
I was brought into the first, where I saw no- 
thing but devils and evil spirits, which torment- 
ed me in such a manner, that my tongue or pen 
cannot express. I cried for mercy, but in vain. 
There appeared to me a light like a star, at a 
great distance from me ; I strove to get to it, but 
all in vain. Being hurried into the second apart- 
ment, the devils put me into a vice and tormented 
me until my body was all in a gore of blood. I 
cried again for mercy, but still in vain. I observ- 
ed that a light followed me, and I heard one say 
to me, " How good doth this light appear to 
you." I was soon hurried into the third apart- 
ment, where there were scorpions with stings 
'in their tails, fastened in sockets at the end 
thereof : their tails appeared to be about a fa- 
thom long, and every time they struck me, 
their stings, which appeared an inch and a half 
in length, stuck fast in me, and they roared 
like thunder. Here I was constrained to cry 
again for mercy. As fast as I pulled out the 
sting of one, another struck me. I was hurried 
through this apartment to a lake that burned 
with fire : it appeared like a flaming furnace, 



8 



^LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



and the flames dazzled like the sun. The 
devils were here throwing in the souls of men 
and women. There appeared two regiments of 
devils moving through the arches, blowing up 
the flames : and when they came to the end, one 
regiment turned to the right and the other to the 
left, and came round the pit, and the screeches 
of the damned were beyond the expression of. 
man. When it came to my turn to be thrown in, 
one devil took me by the head' and another by 
the feet, and with the surprise I awoke and 
found it a dream. But ! what horror seized 
my guilty breast ■ I thought I should die and be 
damned. This brought seriousness to my mind 
for about eight or ten days, in which I made 
many promises to mend my life, but they soon 
wore off again. 

About five or six weeks after this, I dreamed 
that I died and was carried into one of the most 
beautiful place; I ever saw, and my guide 
brought me to one of the most elegant build- 
ings I ever beheld, and when we came to it the 
gates opened to us of their own accord, and we 
went straight forward into the building, where we 
were met by a company of the heavenly host, ar- 
rayed in white raiment down to their feet. We 
passed on through the entry until we came to a 
door on the right, which stood about half open : 
passing a little forward, we made a stand before 
the door : I looked in, and saw the Ancient of 
Days sitting upon his throne, and all around him 
appeared a dazzling splendour. I stood amazed 
at the sight ; one stepped forward to me arrayed 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 9 

in white, which I knew to be my wife's mo- 
ther, and said to me, 44 Benjamin, this place is 
not for you yet so I returned, and my guide 
brought me back. I awoke with amaze at 
what I had seen, and concluded that I should 
shortly die, which brought all my sins before 
me, and caused me to make many promises to 
God to repent, which lasted for some time ; 
but this wore off again, and I went to my old 
practices. One Sabbath day (our minister be- 
ing sick, and my. wife being a great meeting 
body) hearing that there was to be a Methodist 
meeting about ten or twelve miles distance, 
she expressed a desire to go to it, and asked my 
consent : I gave it ; and she and my oldest 
son and daughter went to hear the man. On 
their return, I asked her how she liked the 
preacher ; she replied that he was as great 
a preacher as ever she had heard in all her 
life, and persuaded me to go and hear for my- 
self ; accordingly on the next Sabbath I went ; 
there was a large congregation assembled to 
hear the man ; his text was, Come unto me, all 
ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will 
give you rest, Matt. xi, 2S. The preacher was 
much engaged, and the people were crying all 
through the house ; this greatly surprised me, 
for I never had seen the like before. The ser- 
mon made no impression on me ; but when he 
came to the application, he said, " It may be, 
that some of you may think that there is neither 
God nor devil, heaven nor hell, only a guilty 
conscience ; and indeed, my friends, that is bad 



10 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

enough." 44 But," said he, 44 1 assure you that 
there is both heaven and hell, God and devil." 
I spoke, I am the man. But he went on and 
argued that fire was contained in every thing, 
and that there was a dreadful hell that was 
beyond our comprehension, and advised the 
people to fly to Christ for refuge : he then 
showed the reality of the existence of a God, 
from a beautiful illustration of his works, which 
were evidenced to us daily , and that this God 
had created the heavens and earth. Then called 
upon the people to come unto God, for Christ 
had died for their redemption. There was 
much weeping and heavy groaning among the 
people. Meeting being over, the two dreams, 
that I had dreamed about seven years before, 
came as fresh into my mind as if dreamed the 
night before, and that God had shown me both 
heaven and hell, the state of the blessed and 
the damned. This brought me to think of my 
misspent life, and in a moment all my sins that I 
ever had committed were brought to my view ; 
I saw it was the mercy of God that I was out of 
hell, and promised to amend my life in future. 
I went home under awful sensations of a future 
state ; my convictions increased, and I began 
to read my Bible with attention, and saw things 
in a different light from what I had ever seen 
them before, and made many promises to God, 
with tears and groans, to forsake sin ; but I 
knew not the way to Christ for refuge, being 
ignorant of the nature both of conviction and 
conversion. But blessed be God, he still gave 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 11 

me light, so that the work was deepened in my 
soul day by day. The preacher came to preach 
in our neighbourhood, and I went to hear him 
again ; it being a new thing in the place brought 
many together to hear him. Some were Pres- 
byterians, some Baptists, and others without 
&ny professions of religion. He took his text 
and preached with power ; the word reached 
my heart in such a powerful manner that it 
shook every joint in my body ; tears flowed in 
abundance, and I cried out for mercy, of which 
the people took notice, and many others were 
melted into tears : when the sermon was over, 
the people flocked round the preacher and began 
to dispute with him about principles of religion. 
I said that there never was such preaching as 
this ; but the people said, Abbott is going mad. 

I returned home with my family in sore dis- 
tress, and pondered these things in my mind : 
I saw it was the mercy of God that I was out 
of hell. I cried to God for mercy, but it seemed 
all in vain. It brought to my mind the many 
times his Holy Spirit had strove with me from 
time to time when I was a small boy, and from 
that time to this. Satan suggested to me that 
my day of grace was now over, and that I was 
one of thos e damned reprobates that God had 
assigned ovor to him from all eternity ; there- 
fore, I might pray and cry, but he was sure of 
me at last. Being brought up in the doctrine 
of election and reprobation, I concluded that I 
should be damned do what I could : by this time 
my case became desperate. I knew not what 



12 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



to do, and was almost in despair. One day go- 
ing to mill, I felt such a hell in my breast arising 
from a guilty conscience, and being belated in 
my return, as I was passing through a piece 
of woods the devil suddenly suggested to my 
mind, that as I was one of the reprobates and 
there was no mercy for me, I had better hang 
myself and know the worst of it. While I was 
looking for a suitable place for that purpose I 
thought I heard a voice, saving, (alluding to 
the anxiety and distress of soul that I then felt,) 
" This torment is nothing to hell." I immedi- 
ately changed my mind ana 1 drove home under 
the greatest anxiety imaginable, for it appeared 
to me the devil was behind me in the wagon 
with his hand just over my head, threatening to 
take me away both soul and body. I cannot 
express my feelings at that time ; my hair arose 
on my head through fear : I was afraid to look 
back, lest I should visibly see him. In this de- 
plorable condition I returned home : when I got 
into the house I dared not go outside of the 
door for fear the devil would take me away. 
My wife saw that something was the matter 
with me, and inquired what it was, for, said she, 
" vou look like death." I was constrained to 
turn from her and weep, for I expected she 
knew my condition, as she had been a member 
of the Presbyterian Church for many years y and 
was a praying woman. Bed time being came, 
I told her I should sleep by myself : when I lay 
down and fell into a doze, my mind was filled 
with awful apparitions. I thought I saw devils 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 13 

ready to take me ; hell open, ready to receive 
me ; and that I was rolling, bed and all, into the 
flames, while other huge devils stood ready to 
receive me. Then I would suddenly awake in 
the greatest distress imaginable, and so I con- 
tinued during the night. Next morning, being 
the 9th of October, 1772, having a piece of 
grass to cut, I ajose and went to it : as soon as 
I began to mow, I was taken with fainting fits, 
and it seemed to rne that the earth would open 
and swallow me up, while my troubled heart 
beat so loud that I could hear the strokes, and 
could compare it to two men a boxing or thresh- 
ing, more than like its usual motion. It oc- 
curred to my mind, what is all the world to me ; 
I shall be dead and damned before the setting 
sun. This caused me to lay down my scythe, 
while I stood weeping for my sins ; but alas ! 
all in vain. I still grew worse, and went back 
to the house under great distress, where I read 
some hymns that I had in a book, of the suffer- 
ings of our blessed Lord and Saviour. Here 
my heart was tendered, and I could weep freely, 
until my very cheeks were sore with wiping 
them. It was pressed upon me to pray, and 
perhaps the Lord would have mercy upon me. 
I endeavoured to comply with the impression, 
and went to a lonely place and kneeled down to 
pray ; but the devil suggested to my mind that 
there was somebody hid in the woods, and they 
would laugh at me ; so I arose and looked all 
round for them, but could see no one, yet I 
dared not pray there. However, I went to the 



14 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT* 



other end of my field and kneeled down again : 
here the enemy suggested the same thing, but 
the Lord gave me strength to pray, it being the 
first time I ever prayed with a vocal voice. My 
prayer was not like the Pharisee, but like the 
poor publican, I cried, " God be merciful to me a 
sinner /" God have mercy on me ! I believe 
I might have been heard half a mile ; my dis- 
tress was not so great when I arose from prayer 
as when I kneeled ; for I believe I could not 
have continued in the body, if God had not 
moderated the pain and anxiety that I was in, 
but must have expired before the going down 
of the sun. Glory to God, I felt my distress 
somewhat removed ! I then returned to the 
house and sat down to dinner, but my soul was 
still in so great distress that I could not eat ; 
although I put food into my mouth and chewed 
it, yet I could not swallow it ; so in as private 
a manner as possible, that my wife should not 
discover my anxiety, I threw it to the dog, and 
asked her if she would go with me to meeting, 
as a Methodist preacher was to preach in the 
neighbourhood that afternoon : she agreed, and 
we went. When we got there, the people not 
being assembled, I retired into the woods to 
pray, and got in among the boughs of a fallen 
tree, and then in the utmost anguish of my soul 
I cried unto God for mercy, so loud that the 
people at the house heard me. After this I felt 
something easier, but still had no peace. I 
then went to one of the near neighbours, and 
advised them to go with me and hear the preach- 



LIFE OP BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



15 



er, whom I spoke so highly of that they all went. 
When we got there the preacher had come, and 
there was a large concourse assembled ; a great 
many more than could get into the house. I 
went in, sat down, and took my little son upon 
my knee ; the preacher began soon after. His 
word was attended with such power that it ran 
through me from head to foot, and I shook and 
trembled like Belshazzar, and felt that I should 
cry out if I did not leave the house, which I de- 
termined to do, that I might not expose myself 
by crying out among the people ; but when I 
attempted to put my little son down and rise to 
go, I found that my strength had failed me, and 
the use of my limbs was so far gone that I was 
utterly unable to rise. Immediately I cried 
aloud, like the penitent of old, Save, Lord, or I 
perish. But before the preacher concluded, I 
refrained and wiped my eyes ; my heart gave 
way to shame, and I was tempted to wish I was 
dead or could die, as I had so exposed myself 
that my neighbours and acquaintance would 
laugh at and despise me. When meeting was 
over I thought to speak to the preacher, but 
such a crowd got round him disputing points of 
doctrine, that I could not conveniently get an 
opportunity. That evening I set up family 
prayer, it being the first time I ever had at- 
tempted to pray in my family. My wife being 
a strict Presbyterian and professor of religion, 
she was a praying woman and much pleased 
with having family prayer ; so that she proved 
a great help to me, and endeavoured to encou- 



16 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



rage me in my duty ; although, dear creature, 
at that time she knew nothing of experimental 
religion. 

Saturday, 10th of October, 1772, my distress 
continued, although not so great as the day 
before. 

Sunday, 11th, my wife and I went eleven or 
twelve miles to meeting, in order to hear the 
same Methodist preacher again. When we 
arrived at the place, the preacher was walking 
across a field ; I went and related to him my 
distress of soul, and told him that I had a desire 
to be baptized, hoping that it would be of service 
to make me better, and relieve me of my dis- 
tress ; for I had no idea of faith in Christ. He 
asked me if I was a Quaker ? I told him no ; I 
was nothing but a poor, wretched, condemned 
sinner. He then exhorted me to believe in the 
Lord Jesus Christ, and applied the promises of 
the Gospel ; I replied, I could not believe that 
Christ would have mercy on such a sinner as I 
was, and burst into a flood of tears. He then 
said, I was the very man that Christ died for, or 
he would not have awakened me. That it was 
the lost Christ came to seek, and the greatest 
of sinners he came to save, and commanded me 
to believe. We then went to the house ; he 
soon began to preach, and I stood outside the 
door, for I was afraid to go in lest I should ex- 
pose myself again, as on. the Friday before : in 
his prayer he particularly prayed for the poor 
broken-hearted sinner. His cries to God on 
this occasion ran through my heart like darts 



LIFE OP T5ENJAMIN ABBOTT. 17 

and daggers ; after meeting I returned and 
prayed in my family, and ever after continued 
that duty. That night I lay alone, expecting to 
sleep little, but to pray and weep all night : 
whenever I fell into a slumber, it appeared to 
me that I saw hell opened ready to receive me, 
and I just on the point of dropping in, and 
devils waiting to seize me. Being thus alarmed, 
it would arouse me up, crying to the Lord to 
save me ; and thus I passed the whole night in 
this terrified, unhappy condition. Just at the 
dawning of the day, I fell into a dose more like 
sleep than any I had during the whole night, in 
which I dreamed that I saw a river as clear as 
crystal, in the midst of which appeared a rock, 
with a child sitting upon it, and a multitude of 
people on the shore, who said the child would 
be lost. I then saw a small man on the bank 
of the river, whose hair was very black, and he 
and I wresded together. I heard the people 
cry out, The child is lost ; and looking round, I 
saw it floating down the river, and when it came 
opposite where we were, it threw up its wings, 
and I saw it was an angel. The man with 
whom I wrestled told me there was a sorrel or 
red horse chained head and hind foot in the 
river, and bade me go down and loose him. 
The people parted to the right and left, forming 
a lane for me to pass through ; I immediately 
hastened to the river, and went in, the water 
running over my head, and without receiving 
any kind of injury, I loosed the horse, and im- 
mediately I sprang out of the water like a cork, 
2 



18 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

or the bouncing of a ball, and at that instant I 
awoke, and saw, by faith, the Lord Jesus Christ 
standing by me, with his arms extended wide, 
saying to me, " I died for you." I then looked 
up, and by faith I saw the Ancient of Days, and 
he said to me, " I freely forgive thee for what 
Christ has dme." At this I burst into a flood of 
'tears, and with ]oy m my heart, cried and praised 
God, and said, ! that there were a minister to 
give me the Lord's Supper ! Then by faith I 
saw the Lord Jesus come to me as with a cup 
in his hand, and he gave it to me, and I took it 
and drank thereof: it was like unto honey for 
sweetness. At that moment the Scriptures were 
wonderfully opened to ray understanding. I 
was now enabled to interpret the dream or vision 
to my own satisfaction, viz The river which 
I saw represented to me the river of life pro- 
ceeding from the throne of God, spoken of by the 
psalmist, xivL, 4, and also in Rev. xxli, 1. The 
numerous company on the shore represented 
the angels of God, standing to rejoice at my 
conversion, according to Luke xv, 6, 7. The 
sorrel or red horse I thought was my own 
spirit or mind, fettered w 7 ith,the cords of unbelief, 
or the chains of the devil. The colour repre- 
sented the carnal mind, or nature of Satan, 
which was stamped upon me, and thus I was 
plunged into the river, where the cords of un- 
belief were immediately loosed by faith, and my 
captive soul set at liberty.; and my bouncing 
out was a representation of the lightness of *ny 
heart, which sprang up to God, upon my instaa- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 19 



taneous change from nature to grace. The 
man at whose command I was loosed was 
Christ ; thus I was set at liberty from the chains 
of bondage, and enmity of the carnal mind. 

At this time I thought of my daughter, who 
was under distress of soul ; she was about 
fourteen years of age ; I looked up toward the 
-chamber where she was with a particular con- 
cern for her conversion, and the Lord said to 
me, " She is safely landed" which was accom- 
panied with a conviction in my mind that she 
had found the Lord, which was the case, as I 
found after I arose and spoke to her. I have 
since thought that the child I saw in my vision 
or dream might represent my daughter; who, 
instead of being lost, was safely landed. She 
served the Lord a number of years, and died 
triumphant in the faith ; and I have no doubt 
but our loss was her infinite gain, and that she 
landed in glory. 

All the time of my conviction I used to con- 
sider what Church or society I should join, 
whether the Baptist, Presbyterian, or Method- 
ist ; but at this time the Lord said unto me, 
" You must join the Methodists, for they are 
my people, and they are right." 

My heart felt as light as a bird, being relieved 
of that load of guilt which before had bowed 
down my spirits, and my body felt as active as 
when I was eighteen, so that the outward and 
inward man were both animated, and I felt as 
if I could have sprung from the bed to the fire, 
which was about fifteen feet. 



20 LIFE OP BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

I arose and called up the family, and took 
down the Testament, and the first place I opened 
was the ninth chapter of Acts, where Saul 
breathed out threatenings and slaughter against 
the Church or disciples of the Lord, and if I 
had had a congregation I could have preached ; 
but having none only my family, I expounded 
the chapter and exhorted them, and then sung 
and prayed. After breakfast I told my wife 
that I must go and tell the neighbours what the 
Lord had done for my soul. The first place 
I went to, the man and his wife were both pro- 
fessors of religion, and members of the Baptist 
Church : I expected they knew what these things 
were, and would rejoice with me; but to my 
great surprise when I related my experience, 
and told what God had done for my soul, it ap- 
peared as strange to them as if I had claimed 
possession of Old England, and called it all my 
own. I then sat out to Jacob ElwelPs mill, 
about two miles off, where I expected to meet 
with divers persons, and to have an opportunity 
to exhort them and tell them what I had found. 
On my way there I exhorted all I met with to 
turn to God. When I got to the mill, while I 
was telling them my experience, and exhorting 
them to flee from the wrath to come, some 
laughed and others cried, and some thought I 
had gone distracted. Before night a report 
was spread all through the neighbourhood that 
I was raving mad ; at evening I returned home, 
and asked my wife about her conviction and 
conversion, expecting, as she professed religion, 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 21 

that she knew what heart religion was ; but to 
my astonishment I found she never had expe- 
rienced a change of heart. She had been 
awakened, when young, under a sermon of Mr. 
Hunter, (a Presbyterian minister,) which brought 
her to prayer, but in process of time it wore off 
again. About seven years after that, as a bro- 
ther of hers was sitting under a fence watching 
for deer, another man who was also hunting, 
about sunset, seeing his head through the fence, 
and taking it to be a fox, shot and killed him. 
This unfortunate affair gave her another alarm, 
which brought her again to prayer; but this 
also wore off in a short time, and she lived in 
neglect of that duty until after we were married 
and had three children ; at which time the 
measles came into the family, and under her 
afflictions and distress she covenanted with 
God to be more religious : from which time she 
became a praying woman, and joined the Pres- 
byterian Church, and was looked upon as a very 
religious person, although she rested short of 
conversion, and remained a stranger to the new 
birth. I told her that she had no religion, and 
was nothing more than a strict Pharisee ; this 
gave her displeasure, and she asked me if I 
thought that none had religion but those who 
knew it : I told her no, not one, for all who had 
it must know it. Next day she went to her 
minister to know what he thought of it. He 
told her she was right, for people might be good 
Christians and know nothing about what I in- 
sisted on ; and advised her not to mind me, for 



22 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

I was expecting to be saved by my works. This 
gave her a momentary satisfaction, and home 
she came, quite strong, and attacked me, and 
related what her minister had said : she also 
brought a book which he had sent me, request- 
ing I would read it, entitled Bellamey's New 
Divinity, in which he insi&ted upon conversion 
before conviction, and faith before repentance r 
I read it about half through and found him a 
rigid predestinarian. His doctrine of decrees 
and unconditional election and reprobation so 
confused my mind, that I threw it by y determin- 
ing to read no more in it> as my own experience 
clearly proved to me that the doctrines it con- 
tained were false. Next day my wife carried 
the book back. I desired her to tell the minis- 
ter, from me, that it was full of lies, which 
Scripture and experience both proved. He 
sent for me to come and see him : accordingly 
the day following I went and dined with him : 
after dinner he requested all the family to with- 
draw from the dining room : they did so, and he 
and I were left alone. He then told me he un- 
derstood that God had done great things for 
me ; whereupon I related my conviction and my 
conversion. He paid a strict attention until I 
had done, and then told me that I was under 
strong delusion of the devil. He got a book 
out of his library for me to read : as he handed 
it to me, the Lord showed me, by the voice of 
his Spirit, that the book was not fit for me. — 
However, I disobeyed the Divine impression, 
and took it at the minister's request : I returned 



LIFE OF ElENJAMIN ABBOTf . 2^3 

home, felt a temptation to doubt, and called to 
mind my various sins, but none of them con- 
demned me. I then thought upon a particular 
sin, which I concluded would condemn me, but 
in a moment I felt an evidence that that sin was 
forgiven, as though separate from all the rest 
that ever I had committed ; but recollecting the 
minister had told me that 44 1 was under strong 
delusions of the devil," it was suggested to my 
mind, it may be he is right : I went a little out 
of the road, and kneeled down and prayed to 
God, that if I was deceived, to undeceive me ; 
and the Lord said to me, " Why do you doubt ? 
Is not Christ all-sufficient? Is he not able? 
Have you not felt his blood applied]" I then 
sprang upon my feet, and cried out, not all the 
devils in hell, nor all the predestinarians on 
earth, should make me doubt ; for I knew that 
I was converted : at that instant I w#s filled with 
unspeakable raptures of joy. When I got home, 
my wife asked what the minister had said. I 
told her, and that he had no religion, at which 
she burst into tears, and wept, to think I should 
say the minister had no religion. She said it 
was dreadful that I should condemn their mi- 
nister. She then said, You hate me and alt the 
Presbyterians. I replied, No, my dear, I love 
you all, but as yet I have not found one con- 
verted Christian among you. 

For three days I continued in these Divine 
raptures of joy, and thought I should have no 
more trials of warfare, not being acquainted 
with the travails of a Christian through the 



24 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

snares and dangers in life. But the fourth day 
I fell into heaviness through powerful tempta- 
tions. The devil harassed my soul with fear 
that I had grieved the Spirit of God, and that it 
had left me. A severe temptation ran through 
me, " Let him go if he will! Let him go if he 
will" Then it was strongly suggested to my 
mind, that I had as good turn back to my old 
ways again ; but I cried, No ! I love my Jesus ! 
I never will : no, not for a thousand worlds ! 
In the evening I prayed as usual, but stil! felt 
as if dark and forsaken ; after I got into bed 
the Lord visited me in a powerful manner, and 
I lay as in the arms of Jesus. Toward the 
dawn of day, in a dream, I thought I saw the 
preacher, under whom I was awakened, drunk, 
and playing cards, with his garments all de- 
filed with dirt. When I awoke and found it a 
dream, I was glad ; although I still felt some 
uneasiness on his account. In about three 
w$eks after, I heard that the poor unfortunate 
preacher had fallen into sundry gross sins, and 
was expelled from the Methodist connection. 
Thus I saw my dream fulfilled. The tidings of 
his fall filled me with such distress, that I wan- 
dered about like a lost sheep with these reflec- 
tions : If the head is thus fallen, what will become 
of me, or what combats may I have with the devil ? 
At length, when in prayer under sore temptation, 
almost in despair, a new thought was impressed 
on my mind, that I must not trust in the arm of 
flesh, for, Cursed is he thatputteth his trust in the 
arm of flesh* I then saw that my salvation did not 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABEOTT. 



25 



depend on his standing or falling: I had to 
stand for myself, and to give diligence, through 
grace, to save my own soul ; that my soul must 
answer at the bar of God for my own deeds. I 
then drew a conclusion, that I would not join 
any Church until I had read the Bible and com- 
pared it with their articles or confessions of faith. 
Accordingly I took the Westminster Confes- 
sion of Faith, and compared it with the Scrip- 
tures, and found it held many things which were 
not in the Bible ; but repugnant thereunto : I 
then got the Baptist Confession of Faith, and 
compared their articles in like manner, and 
found them as uhscriptural and repugnant to 
truth as the former. I found the Bible held 
out free grace to all, and for all, and that Christ 
tasted death for every man, and offered Gospel 
salvation to all : therefore, I could not bear 
those contracted, partial doctrines of uncondi- 
tional election and reprobation. So I threw 
them both aside, and went on with the Bible, 
from Genesis to the Revelation, until I had read 
it through ; by which time I was well armed with 
arguments against the predestinarians. Soon 
after this I had a dispute with a Calvinistic 
minister, at his own house, upon election and 
reprobation. He told me that such a definite 
number of angels and men had been elected 
to life from all eternity ; and the others, by an 
unalterable decree, had been reprobated to 
damnation. I then told him he was a fool to 
preach, if he believed that doctrine ; the people 
were fools to hear him, much more to pay him 



26 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



for preaching such doctrine, and that he was no 
better than a pick-pocket, to take the people's 
money, when his preaching could be of no ser- 
vice to them, if every thing was preordained, de- 
termined, and fixed by an eternal, unalterable de- 
cree. At this he was much offended and left me. 
As I was going home I got upon a neighbour's 
fence, where I sat for a considerable time, pon- 
dering in my mind what I had best do : for I could 
not join either the Presbyterians or Baptists, be- 
cause their articles and doctrine were contrary 
to Scripture, to my faith and experience, and as 
yet there was no society of Methodists formed 
in our parts. While I was thus meditating, the 
Lord, by his Spirit, in power spoke in my mind 
to the following effect: 44 1 have shown you the 
way wherein you ought to walk ; but your ways 
are a grief to my Spirit." I then recollected, 
that at my conversion, the Lord had showed me 
that it was his will that I should join the Me- 
thodist Church, and that I had been putting it 
off for six months, trying to join either the Bap* 
tist or Presbyterian Church : such a shock of 
conviction ran through my soul upon this re- 
flection, that on a sudden I cried aloud, several 
times, " lam a Methodist! I am a MMhodisl!" 
I then returned home, fully resolved to be a 
Methodist ; although I well knew that perse- 
cution and reproach would be poured upon me 
from every quarter. However, I was resolved 
to obey God, come what would. Accordingly 
I told my wife that I was a Methodist. She 
asked, what is the matter now ; I told her that 
God would not let me be any thing else. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOT'?. 27 

A few days after, an elder of the Presbyterian 
meeting came to talk with me, to whom I told 
my experience, and that I knew that God for 
Christ's sake had forgiven my sins. He re- 
plied that he had been a member of the Church 
twenty- five years, and never before heard any 
one say that he knew his sins were forgiven ; 
and for any one to say that he knew his sins were 
forgiven, he ought to be burned ; for he made 
himself as perfect as an angel in heaven. Nay, 
said he, I would help to burn such a man my- 
self. I told him, if he never had felt a convic- 
tion for sin, to make him cry to God to save 
him a poor sinner, and had not felt the blood of 
Christ applied, to the washing away of his sins, 
his religion was still no better than the deviPs. 
This shut him up, and he went away silent, and 
afterward told his minister that he slept none 
that night. When he afterward related this to 
me, I told him that I wished that he had never 
slept any more until he had found Christ. 

Some days after I went to Woodstown, about 
twelve miles from home, where I met with an 
old acquaintance, who invited me to dine with 
him. I went, and when we were about sitting 
down to dinner, I proposed to ask a blessing ; 
and as soon as I began the two journeymen 
burst out a laughing : at which I arose and 
began to exhort them all in a very rough 
manner, thundering out hall and damnation 
against the ungodly with tears in my eyes. This 
broke up dinner, and neither of us eat any thing. 
S. Smallwood, a young woman, being present, 



28 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

was much affected, and asked me home with 
her ; accordingly I went, and when we got there, 
she related to her mother, Mrs. Sparks, all that 
had passed. The old lady and I soon fell into 
conversation. She was a pious Moravian. I 
was truly glad that I had found a witness for 
Jesus; she being the first person I had con- 
versed with since my conversion, who testified 
the knowledge of sin forgiven. She knew that 
God, for Christ's sake, had freely forgiven her 
sins. We had a comfortable time in conversing 
together on the things of God. She told me 
that I was the first person she had met with, in 
that place, who could testify that their sins were 
forgiven. I left her with strong impressions on 
my mind to preach the Gospel, and on my way 
home began to illustrate on the green tree and 
the dry ; the dry times and the green times. 

I still continued to read and examine the Bi- 
ble, being fully convinced that a dispensation of 
the Gospel was committed to me, from the very 
hour that I had found peace with God. From 
that time I exhorted all that I had any inter- 
course with. The Scriptures were wonderfully 
opened unto me, and became my meditation by 
day and by night : for often when asleep, texts 
were brought to my mind, the Spirit divided 
them into heads, and I preached from them in 
my sleep. I frequently awoke, not knowing 
where to find the text I had been preaching 
from, and inquired of my wife if she knew ; and 
upon her replying that she did not, I have lain a 
few minutes, and God has revealed to me both 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 29 

chapter and verse, which I desired her to re- 
member, and in the morning found it as the 
Lord had revealed it to me. This so frequently 
occurred, that my wife used to say, " You are 
always preaching." However, it caused her to 
ponder these things in her heart. I saw that if 
ever I should win her to Christ, it must be by 
love, and a close walk with God : for I observed 
that she watched me closely. She went many 
times to her minister, and he as often daubed 
her with untempered mortar, and she would 
return again strong in her own opinion. But 
when she observed to him that there was an 
alteration in me, he replied, that I expected to 
get to heaven by my works. When I told her 
that I should be a preacher, she replied, " You 
look like a preacher, and do not understand one 
text in the Bible." 

However, I continued to go on ; and about 
this time, Philip Gatch, one of the Methodist 
preachers, preached about four miles from our 
house : my wife and I went to hear him. He 
gave us an alarming discourse, which reached 
the heart of my wife. She called him aside, 
after preaching, and said, " If what my hmband 
tells me, and what you preach, be true, I have no 
religion :" he came to me, and told me my wife 
was awakened, and that we must go with him 
to the place where he was to preach in the after- 
noon : we accordingly went. After he had done 
preaching, he asked me to go to prayer : this 
was a great cross, as I had never prayed in public 
except in my family ; however, I felt it my duty 



30 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

to comply,, and accordingly took up my cross, 
and the LGrd wrought powerfully upon the peo- 
ple ; among the rest, my wife was so wrought 
upon that she cried aloud for mercy. So great 
was her conviction, that for three days she eat, 
drank, or slept but little. She now saw she had 
only been a Pharisee, and was in a lost condi- 
tion. On the third day in the afternoon, she 
went over to John Murphey's, a neighbour of 
ours, a sensible man, and one well experienced 
in religion. After some conversation with him, 
she returned home, and upon her way, the Lord 
broke in upon her soul, and she came home re- 
joicing in God. During her absence, I went 
from home to visit a sick man, with whom I 
tarried all night. On my return next morning, 
she met me at the door with tears of joy ; we 
embraced each other, and she cried out, 44 Now 
I know what you told me is true, for the Lord 
hath pardoned my sins." We had a blessed 
meeting ; it was the happiest day we had ever 
seen together. 44 Now," said she, 44 1 am willing 
to be a Methodist too :" from that time we went 
on, hand and hand, helping and building each 
other up in the Lord. These were the begin- 
ning of days to us. Our children also began to 
yield obedience to the Lord, and in the course 
of about three months after my wife's conver- 
sion, we had six children converted to God ; 
two sons and four daughters, the youngest of 
whom was only seven years old. 

My neighbours when sick «ow began to send 
for me to pray with and for them ; some of 



U'FE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 31 

whom after they recovered, were ashamed, 
lest they should be laughed at for sending for 
" old Abbott" to pray with them. 

There was one remarkable instance, which I 
shall here mention, viz : — I dreamed that one 
of my neighbours had a fire broke out, and I 
worked at it until it became pure gold ; I then 
told him that he was one of the richest men in 
the world. Soon after, I dreamed that a fire 
broke out and run through all his plantation, 
and then died away, and the whole appeared to 
be a coal mine. It rested on my mind what 
these dreams could mean. In a few weeks 
this neighbour was taken sick, and lay very ill 
with a pleurisy : his life being despaired of, he 
requested them to send for me to pray with him. 
I got out of my bed and went : when I got there, 
he told me that the Lord had warned him to 
send for me, and that all his sins had passed 
before him that night, and that he expected to die 
and go to hell ; but that he now felt his anguish 
and guilt removed, and his mind filled with re- 
markable peace. I told him his soul was con- 
verted : he suddenly clasped his hands and 
sprung up in the bed, praising God aloud, ex- 
horting all in the place to repent and turn to 
God. His words wrought so powerfully on 
their hearts, that a general weeping took place. 
That night his disorder broke,, and he recover- 
ed and lived some years in the service of God ; 
then died a happy man ; but his family, who 
were all struck with the power of God the night 
of his conversion, lost their desires for salvation. 



32 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

Then I understood that the fire, which I had 
seen in my dream, was the heavenly fire which 
had caught in him and run through all his 
family ; the pure gold was that treasure he re- 
tained in his own soul ; the coal mine, his 
family, who lost their desires, and were dead 
and barren in religion. 

At another time, on a Saturday night, I 
dreamed that the next day there would be a 
disappointment, and that the expected preacher 
would not come, and that the Lord said to me, 
" You must go and preach, for you must speak 
for me." I awoke, and awaked my wife and 
told her my dream. She replied, " You are 
always dreaming about preaching ; there is no 
doubt but what the preacher will be there." I 
said very well, we will go and see ; accordingly 
we went, the people gathered, but no preacher 
came : one of the men said, we ought not to let 
the people go away without singing and prayer ; 
which I thought very right, and concluded within 
myself to preach. A hymn was sung, and one 
went to prayer, but the cross was so great that 
my heart failed, and I did not attempt to speak. 
The people being dismissed, I returned home 
sorely distressed, that I had been so fearful as 
to disobey the Divine impression that had at- 
tended my mind. Thus I fell into great heavi- 
ness and deadness, and wandered about the 
fields. At length I retired into the woods and 
covenanted with the Lord, that if he would re- 
veal himself to me again, as he had done before, 
I would go and preach wherever he would send 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 33 

me, even if it were to devils. That instant the 
Lord broke into my soul with power : I arose 
from my knees and preached to the very trees 
of the woods. I was resolved, through grace, 
the first opportunity that offered, to preach to 
men. A few days after, a neighbour died, and 
I was requested to attend the funeral. As I 
rode to the place, these words, " Circumcise 
your hearts, for to-morrow the Lord will do 
great things among you," rested weightily on 
my mind. When I got to the place, I stood up 
and said, " The Lord has shown us what we 
shall all come to, in taking this our fellow mor- 
tal from time to eternity," then went to prayer, 
and when I arose from my knees, I took my 
text and preaciied. The word had effect on 
many, and we had a weeping season. From 
that time I went on to preach as occasion served, 
from time to time, and the fruit which the Lord 
gave me was a satisfactory evidence that he had 
called me to the work of the ministry, and had 
committed a dispensation of the Gospel unto 
me. Some time after this, as I was on my way 
to hear one of the Methodist preachers, it was 
strongly impressed on my mind that the preacher 
would not be there, and that I must preach, from 
a certain text which then was given me. When 
I got to the place, I understood that the preacher 
was so unwell that he could not come. One 
of the principal members in that place asked me 
to pray with the people. After prayer I arose 
and took my text and began to preach, at which 
the people were surprised, it being very unex- 
3 



34 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

pected to them ; however, it was a time of 
liberty and power. After meeting, a man asked 
me to preach at his house the next Sabbath : 
accordingly the appointment was made, which 
I attended, and felt a great opening in Divine 
things, and the people were much wrought on. 
It was in a neighbourhood where there never 
had been any Methodist preaching before. The 
following extraordinary occurrence took place : 
while I was speaking with great zeal, and ex- 
claiming against the various abominations of 
the people, and pointing out their enormous 
sins, I cried out, " For aught I know, there may 
be a murderer in this congregation !" Imme- 
diately a lusty man attempted to go out, but 
when he got to the door, he bawled out, and 
stretched out both his arms and run backward, 
as though some one had been before him press- 
ing on him to take his life, and he endeavouring 
to defend himself from the attack, until he got 
to the far side of the room, and then fell back- 
ward against the wall and lodged on a chest, 
and cried out very bitterly, and said, " He was 
the murderer, for he had killed a man about fif- 
teen years before, and that two men met him at 
the door with pointed swords, and pursued him 
across the room to stab him !" Thus he lay and 
cried with great anguish of soul. This surprised 
me so much that I stopped preaching ; the peo- 
ple were greatly alarmed, and looked on the 
man with the utmost astonishment. After a 
short pause, I went on again and finished my 
discourse. The man, who was in this wonder- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 35 

ful manner wrought upon, recovered himself 
and went away, and I never have seen or heard 
of him since. 

The Sabbath after, I preached in the school 
house in my own neighbourhood ; it had been 
rumoured abroad that I was that day to preach 
to drunkards : people of all kinds came out, and 
we had a large congregation. The Lord at- 
tended his word with power, even to some who 
came only out of an idle curiosity to hear, as 
they thought, some laughable nonsense. 

About this time we formed a class in our 
neighbourhood, and I was appointed to lead 
them. We were taken into the circuit, and had 
regular circuit preaching once in two weeks : I 
continued to preach on Sabbath days, and the 
circuit preachers on week days. 

The American war came on, and this in- 
creased our persecution : for hitherto we had 
been persecuted as Methodist Christians, but 
in addition to this, we were now branded with 
toryism ; for the Methodists were considered 
by their persecutors as tories ; and I am sorry 
to say that the improper conduct of some, both 
preachers and members, gave some grounds 
for the suspicion. However, to be called a 
Methodist was a certain imputation of toryism 
in the estimation of our enemies ; but for my 
part I never meddled in the politics of the day. 
My call was to preach salvation to sinners, to 
wage war against the works of the devil. One 
day, Major H. asked me if I preached up for 
war : I told hirn no, I did not. He then asked 



36 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

me what I did preach : I told him that I preached 
repentance toward God, and faith in Jesus Christ, 
and that all who did not experience this would 
be damned and go to hell. He appeared angry 
at this answer ; but when I related to him my 
conviction and conversion, he was calm and 
wished me well. I asked him to come and hear 
me, and then he would know my manner of 
preaching. 

At a certain time I had an appointment to 
preach at D. G.'s in Deerfield, at which a mob 
collected, and threatened to tar and feather the 
preacher, if he came and attempted to preach. 
Mr. G. met me upon the road and advised me 
to go back, for the mob had collected in order 
to tar and feather me. At first I thought I 
would return : consulting with flesh and blood, 
I concluded that it would be a disagreeable 
thing to have my clothes spoiled, and my hair 
all mati,ed together with tar, &c. But those 
words reviving in my mind, The servant is not 
greater than his Lord^ I immediately resolved 
to go and preach, even if I were to die for it. 
When we arrived at the place, there was a large 
congregation assembled, so that the house could 
not contain them, and a number stood round 
about the door. I went in among them, and 
gave out a hymn, but no one sung ; I then sung 
four lines myself while every joint in my body 
trembled, and then said, Let us pray ; but before 
prayer was over, the power of God fell on me 
in such a manner, that it instantly removed from 
me the fear of man, and some cried out. I 



LIFE OP BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 37 

arose, took my text, and preached with great 
liberty, and before the meeting was over, I saw 
many tears drop from their eyes, and the head 
man of the mob said, that he had never heard 
such preaching since Mr. Williams went away : 
so I came off clear : glory be to God who stood 
by me in this trying hour. I then asked if I 
should give out for preaching again, but the 
answer was no. So I returned home happy in 
my soul. Meeting with one of our preachers, 
I told him how great things the Lord had done 
for poor me. He replied, It is nothing to what 
he will do for you, if you are faithful, for it is the 
will of God, even your sanctification ; why, said 
I, I am happy in God already, but if there is 
such a blessing to be had, I am determined to 
have it, and from that time I began to seek for 
it. In examining, I found in the Bible that it 
was the will of God even our sanctification. I 
soon hungered and thirsted for full salvation. — 
In family prayer, one morning, the hand of the 
Lord came upon me in such a manner, that I 
felt the impression, as though one had laid a 
hand upon me, attended with such power that 
I thought I should die, but unbelief took place, 
and the power withdrew, or I believe that God 
would have sanctified me that moment. At 
night I was afraid to pray for such power, for 
fear that God would kill me, therefore my prayer 
was only lip language : by this time I got very 
dead. However, next night I prayed from my 
very heart for the power again, live or die, and 
God poured out his Spirit upon us all in such a 



38 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



manner, that the place was glorious because of 
the presence of the Lord, and his dying love 
filled all our hearts. I was now engaged f or 
the blessing more than ever ; soon after D. 
RurT came upon the circuit, and my house being 
a preaching place, he came and preached, and 
in the morning, in family prayer, he prayed that 
God would come and sanctify us soul and body. 
I repeated these words after him, " Come, Lord, 
and sanctify me, soul and body !" That mo- 
ment the Spirit of God came upon me in such 
a manner that I fell flat to the floor, and lay as 
one strangling in blood, while my wife and chil- 
dren stood weeping over me. But I had not 
power to lift hand or foot, nor yet to speak one, 
word ; I believe I lay half an hour, and felt the 
power of God running through every part of 
my soul and body, like fire consuming the in- 
ward corruptions of fallen, depraved nature. — 
When I arose and walked out of the door, and 
stood pondering these things in my heart, it 
appeared to me that the whole creation was 
praising God ; it also appeared as if I had got 
new eyes, for every thing appeared new, and I 
felt a love for all the creatures that God had 
made, and an uninterrupted peace filled my 
breast. In three days God gave me a full as- 
surance that he had sanctified me, soul and body. 
" If a man love me he will keep my words ; and 
my Father will love him, and we will come unto 
him, and make our abode with him," John xiv, 
23, which I found day by day manifested to 
my soul, by the witness of his Spirit : glory to 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 39 

God for what he then did and since has done 
for poor me. 

Some time after I went to Salem, and A. H. 
came to me and said, I understand that you 
preach. I said yes. Then, said he, will you 
come and preach at my house 1 I said, if you 
please, you may give it out next Sabbath day. 
He did so, and accordingly I attended, and 
found a large congregation assembled, to whom 
I preached, and G-od attended the word with 
power ; some cried out, and many were in tears. 
After sermon I made another appointment for 
that day two weeks, at eleven o'clock. There 
being an elder of the Presbyterian Church pre- 
sent, he asked me if I would come and preach 
at his house : I told him that I would, on that 
day two weeks, at three o'clock. Another said 
it was the truth I had spoken, but in a very rough 
manner. At the time appointed I attended, and 
found many people at both places. At the first, 
I felt much freedom in speaking, and after ser- 
mon found that both the man and his wife were 
awakened. At the second, great power at- 
tended the word, several cried aloud, and one 
fell to the floor. After meeting, I asked the 
man of the house if he knew what he had done. 
He replied, " What have J done ?" Said I, you 
have opened your door to the Methodists, and 
if a work of religion break out, your people will 
turn you out of their synagogue ; he replied, 
that he would die for the truth. I appointed 
to preach again at both places, that day two 
weeks. Next day, on my return home, I called 



40 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



at a Baptist's house, whose daughter was very 
ill : after some conversation I went to prayer, 
and while at prayer the Lord set her soul at 
liberty, and she praised God before us all. — 
Here I fell in company with one of Whitefield's 
converts, who had known the Lord forty years ; 
we had great comfort in conversing together 
upon the things of God : he was an Israel- 
ite indeed. About two years after, he came to 
see me, and told me that he had come to die 
at my house ; accordingly he was taken sick, 
and died there happy in God. 

The Sabbath day following, I preached in a 
place called Hell-neck, which name took its 
rise from the wickedness of the people. One 
sinner said he had heard Abbott swear, and had 
seen him fight, and now he would go and hear 
him preach. The word reached his heart, and 
he soon after became a convert to the Lord. 
After meeting, he invited me home with him, 
and several others invited me to preach at their 
houses, so that I got preaching places all through 
the neighbourhood, and a considerable revival 
of religion took place, although it had been so 
noted for wickedness. Among others, a young 
lad about fifteen was awakened, and in a few 
weeks found peace : his father, being a great 
enemy to religion, opposed him violently, and 
resolved to prevent his being a Methodist, and 
even whipped him for praying. This soon threw 
him into great distress, and on the very borders 
of despair : at length he was tempted to think 
he had sinned against the Holy Ghost, and 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 41 

thought he had cursed G od : I heard of it and 
went to see him ; he told me his temptations, 
and cried out, " There ! I have now done it," 
and clapped his hand on his mouth. I told him 
he had not done it, and that he would not do it 
for the world. His mother began to cry, and 
his father soon came in, and I warned him 
against such conduct toward his son, but he 
told me it was all delusion. Who told you so, 
said I. D. P., said he, and he is a Presbyterian, 
and a good man. Tell D. P. that he is a de- 
ceived man, said I, for that is the true work of 
God upon your son. The son then cried out, 
The Lord is here ! the Lord is here ! The 
father said to me, " Benjamin, are you not a 
free mason'?" I told him no : I knew nothing 
of free masonry, but I knew that this was the 
operation of the Spirit of God. The father then 
wept. I went to prayer, and the family were all 
in tears ; after this the son went on joyfully. — 
After I left this house I went to another of the 
neighbours, and after some conversation with 
them, I went to prayer ; the man kneeled, but 
the woman continued knitting all the time of 
prayer. When I arose, I took her by the hand 
and said, Do you pray ? and looking steadfastly 
at her, added, " God pity you." This pierced 
her heart, so that she never rested, until her 
soul was converted to the Lord. The whole 
neighbourhood seemed alarmed. A Quaker 
who one day came to hear me, asked me home 
with him ; when I entered his house I said, God 
has brought salvation to this house. At prayer, 



42 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

in the evening, his daughter was struck under 
conviction, and soon after the old man, his 
wife, three sons, and two daughters, were all 
brought to experience religion, so that we had 
a considerable society. A Baptist preacher, 
who lived about twenty miles distant, hearing 
what was going on in the neighbourhood, went 
thither and preached the necessity of water 
baptism, and was so successful as to get six of 
my sheep into the water, who left us and fol- 
lowed him. Elated with this success, he fol- 
lowed me from place to place, but all in vain, for 
he was not able to turn another out of the way. 

But to return to my appointments. In 
Mannington great congregations attended. — 
The man and his wife* were both awakened 
and under strong convictions, and many others 
were stirred up to inquire the way to Zion. 
At the second place, the minister thereof at- 
tended : I felt at first a great cross to preach 
before him, he being a learned man, and I 
supposed had come to hear me with an evil 
design, as appeared afterward to be the case. 
However, I prayed to the Lord not to let me be 
confounded. After I began, my cross was but 
light, and the minister, who sat before me, was 
no more than another sinner. The power of 
God rested upon us, and several cried out aloud, 
and two fell to the floor agonizing for salvation. 
I tarried all night, and the minister and five or 
six of the heads of the Presbyterian meeting 
spent the evening with me, in order to dispute, 
* At whose house, it is probable, Mr. Abbott preached. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 43 

and pick me to pieces if possible. The minis- 
ter asked me if I was a Wesley an : I answered 
yes. Then, said he, " you deny the persever- 
ance of the saints." God forbid, said I, for 
none can be saved unless they persevere to the 
end. Then, said he, you believe the possibility 
of falling from grace ; I answered yes. He 
then, in a very abru[ I manner, gave me the lie ; 
but when I told him that I could prove the doc- 
trine by the word of God, he very passionately 
gave me the lie again. I quoted sundry scrip- 
tures, particularly that of David's fall, and turned 
to Ezek. chap, iii, ver. 20 and 21, and wished 
him to read and explain the passage ; but he 
would not touch the Bible. His elder said, it 
read as 1 said, and he ought to explain it. He, 
in a passion, said he was brought up at a col- 
lege, and certainly knew ; but I was a fool, and 
he could cut such a fellow's throat ; then turned 
to his elder and said, " If there was a dog's head 
on your shoulders I would cut it off. Do not 
you know the articles of your own Church 1 I 
will teach you better." I told him the curse 
of God was upon all such watchmen as he was, 
who did not warn the people against sin ; that 
if they lived and died in sin they could not be 
saved, and by his doctrine souls might fall away 
and perish, but their blood would be found in 
his skirts. He replied, I could cut such a fel- 
low's throat ; it makes my blood boil to hear 
the perseverance of the saints denied. I then 
handed him the Bible, and desired him to clear 
it up ; but, said he, " you are a fool, you know 



44 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

nothing at all. I was brought up at college, 
and I will have you before your betters." He 
got so angry that he could say but little more. 
I told him that if we were ambassadors for 
Christ, we ought to go on hand and heart to 
attack the devil in all his strong holds. And 
then asked the man of the house if I should 
preach there again ; but the answer was no. 
So this place was shut against me through the 
influence of the minister. But, glory to God, 
there were doors opened in Mannington, so 
that I was at no loss for places to preach at. 

I accordingly preached at William Harvey's, 
where the people came out pretty generally, and 
the Lord wrought powerfully among them. And 
on my return home, I went with one of my old 
companions, who asked me if I would preach at 
his house in Woodstown ; I told him I would ; 
accordingly an appointment was made, and we 
had a crowded house : while I was speaking, a 
mob of soldiers came with their guns, and bayo- 
nets fixed, and one rushed in, while the rest 
surrounded the door ; the people fled every way, 
and he presented his gun and bayonet as though 
he would run me through : it passed close by 
my ear twice. If ever I preached the terrors 
of the law, I did it while he was threatening me 
in this manner, for I felt no fear of death, and 
soon found he could not withstand the force of 
truth : he gave way and retreated to the door. 
They endeavoured to send him back again, but 
in vain, for he refused to return. However, I 
went on, and finished my discourse, and then 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 45 

asked the man of the house if I should preach 
there again : he said no, for they will pull down 
my house. But Dr. Harris told me I might 
preach in his house. In two weeks I attended 
at the doctor's, and found about one hundred 
men under arms. When I began to preach, 
they grounded their arms, and heard me in a 
quiet, orderly manner. 

About this time, the government was drafting 
the militia to go into the service of their coun- 
try : among others the lot fell on me to go ; 
but as I had a call to preach, I could not think 
of going out to right ; however, I had to pay a 
sum of money sufficient to procure another 
man to go in my place. 

I told my wife that we must move from that 
neighbourhood, for we should be ruined to stay 
among a set of people, who, from their enmity, 
were determined to do me all the injury they 
could. Accordingly I rented a place in Man- 
nington, near Salem, where the people were 
more friendly, and not so full of the spirit of 
war. Here I had many doors opened for me 
to preach, and a powerful work of religion took 
place, attended with several remarkable conver- 
sions, which I think worthy of notice. One 
was a woman who, after returning home from 
preaching, under great conviction, applied her- 
self to prayer ; and while she was about her 
house work, and as she walked across the floor, 
with her heart lifted to God in penitential sup- 
plication, the Lord applied these words to her, 
¥ Go in peace, and sin no more ;" and at that 



46 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

instant she was brought into liberty, and cried 
out, " I have got the Lord ! I have got the 
Lord !" Her children asked what was the 
matter. To whom she repeated the same 
words. They then told her some one was 
coming : she replied, " I do not care ; for I 
have got the Lord. 5> The man came in, and 
she continued to praise the Lord in such a man- 
ner that he was struck under deep conviction. 

Another instance was a Quaker woman, who 
went from preaching under strong conviction, 
and such anguish of mind that she paid no 
attention to her family, nor even to her sucking 
child. Early in the morning I was sent for : 
when I arrived, she was sitting with both hands 
clenched fast in the hair of her head, crying 
out, " Lord, have mercy on me ! Save, Lord, 
or I perish ! I shall go to hell !" &c. I told her 
to pray in faith, to look to Jesus, and lay hold 
of the promises, and God would have mercy on 
her ; but she replied, " I cannot pray." I said 
you do pray very well ! go on. I then kneeled 
down and prayed : three pious women who were 
present did so likewise. One of the women 
said she could not pray in English. I told her 
to pray in Dutch, for God understood that as 
well as English. The distressed woman ap- 
peared to be worse, like one going distracted- 
I then sung the hymn composed for one pos- 
sessed of an evil spirit. 

King of kings, spread thy wings, 
Christ our weakness cover, 
Till the storm is over, &c. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 47 

When these last words were sung, I felt such 
faith, that I told them the Lord would deliver 
her ; and said, let us pray. I kneeled down ; 
in a few minutes she clapped her hands toge- 
ther and cried, 44 My Lord, my God, and my 
Father !" Her soul was immediately set at 
liberty, and she sprung up, rejoicing, praising, 
and giving glory to God. Her husband burst 
into a flood of tears and said, If my wife, who 
has been so good, had to undergo such distress, 
what will become of me? I exhorted him to 
look to God, and he would find mercy. In 
about six weeks after, he was safely converted. 
One of the women present, who had been con- 
verted about six weeks before, was now thrown 
into doubts, and said she feared she never was 
converted, because she never was wrought upon 
in such an extraordinary manner. I told her 
that was no proof, for I was not wrought on in 
that manner myself! yet I knew that I was 
converted. God works upon his people as he 
in his wisdom sees best ; that no one's distress 
could be a standard for another, so that if our 
sins and guilt are removed, and the power of 
religion fixed in the soul, it is enough. None 
should doubt it because they were not brought 
in as they see others. This was a trick of the 
devil to rob her of her confidence. However, 
she was doubtful for three days ; then the Lord 
blessed her with such light and comfort, that 
every fear and doubt was removed. 

About the same time a man in the neighbour- 
hood, under great conviction came to see me : 



48 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

upon his way he was tempted to believe that 
the scripture which says, " If thy right hand 
offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee," 
must be literally obeyed : he felt for his knife 
to try it, but had it not with him. He told me 
his distress, which both surprised and rejoiced 
me. He had lately been a bitter enemy to re- 
ligion, and had used his wife ill on account of 
her being religious. After some conversation, 
I went to prayer with him ; my wife and two or 
three of the children prayed also ; but he got no 
relief. As he was returning, on his way home, ho 
was struck to the ground by the power of God, 
and never arose until his soul was set at liberty. 

Another instance, was a Roman Catholic, 
whose wife was religious. One Sunday morn- 
ing he wanted her to go a visiting with him, 
instead of going to meeting, which she refused, 
being determined to go to meeting. This threw 
him into a great passion ; however, he set off 
alone upon his intended visit ; but before he 
had gone far, he concluded he would return, 
and with malice and murder in his heart, deter- 
mining that she should go with him, or he would 
kill her : when he returned she met him, and 
spoke to him with such tenderness that his rage 
calmed away. He concluded he would go with 
her to meeting : they both came ; and, under 
preaching, the word struck him with such power, 
that he cried aloud under guilt and condemna- 
tion ; and before all the congregation, told what 
had passed in the morning, and wanted to know 
what he should do to be saved. I explained to 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 49 



him the way and plan of salvation ; and in a 
short time after, he found peace, and became a 
steady, religious man. 

A young woman came to me one day after 
preaching, under great distress ; I asked her if 
she had not followed the devil's musicians, the 
fiddlers : she said she had danced many a time, 
and even all night. I told her then to pray all 
night, until God had pardoned her. She said 
she would ; accordingly she returned home 
under great distress, and prayed the whole 
night : next morning the Lord blessed her soul. 

Another young woman came to me, and 
asked what she should do to be saved : I point- 
ed her to the Lord and to the promises. This 
was Sabbath day ; she went home with us, and 
I told her to stay, for so long as she prayed, so 
long she should be welcome. Her distress 
increased until Tuesday morning. All the pre- 
ceding night I heard her mourning and lament- 
ing. At breakfast her distress was so great that 
she could not eat, but retired into the woods to 
pray, where she continued until she found the 
Lord, and returned rejoicing in Christ her Sa- 
viour. 

A school master in the neighbourhood, who 
was a learned, sensible man, but a very drunken 
and wicked one, got awakened, and so far re- 
formed, that he left off drinking to excess, and 
other vices, for some time ; but at a certain time 
he gave way to temptation, and was overcome 
by strong drink : after he got sober, his mind 
was tormented with great horror, and he went 
4 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



to a neighbour's house to tarry all night : in the 
night, after the family were all in bed, he could 
not sleep, but lay with tormenting reflections, 
which increased his fears, until at length he 
imagined that he saw two devils enter the room, 
in order to take him away. This frightened him 
out of bed, and he ran up into one corner of the 
room, and there screamed and fought as though 
he was fighting and beating off the two devils. 
This alarmed the whole family, who arose in 
great confusion, and could not tell what to do. 
They sent over for me ; I went, and found him 
in a shocking condition : I told him it was only 
the strength of imagination ; that there were no 
devils there to take him away ; but he still de- 
clared they were in the room ; and what added 
to the awfulness of the scene, was, at this time, 
a very dark and dismal cloud arose in the skies, 
that gave awful sensations to all who beheld it : 
at length a most remarkable flash of lightning 
came blazing from the clouds, and the streams 
of lightning flashed into the house, and a tre- 
mendous clap of thunder, equal to any I had 
ever heard, burst forth as if the place had been 
sinking, and the very house trembled. At this 
instant I felt the power of the Lord, like light- 
ning, run through me. I instantly went to 
prayer, and they all fell upon their knees, and 
were much affected, and continued in supplica- 
tion during the whole night. Soon after this, 
all the grown part of the family were brought 
into the liberty and knowledge of the truth, as 
it is in Jesus. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



51 



I shall here mention a circumstance, which I 
hope will be a warning to parents who oppose 
their children in religious sentiments. A young 
man, the only son of a professed Quaker, got 
awakened by hearing the Methodist preachers, 
and applied himself to prayer and reading the 
Scriptures : he was likely to go on well in reli- 
gion, until his father and mother, with great ob- 
stinacy and bigotry, violently opposed his going 
among the Methodists, as though Methodism 
was the worst thing in the word : nothing would 
do but the son must be a Quaker. At length 
by their violence and displeasure he was kept 
from meeting, and from going among the Metho- 
dist friends. It had a very different effect on the 
poor, unfortunate young man ; for instead of be- 
coming a religious Quaker, he soon after became 
the most profligate youth in that part. God took 
his father and mother to eternity. This same 
young man, in a few years, ran through a large 
estate left by his father, and Salem jail became 
his habitation. 

I do verily believe that the violent opposition 
of his parents was the cause of his desperate 
courses, which brought him to poverty and 
shame. O ! how careful parents and others 
ought to be, not to use violence or severity with 
children in matters of religion and conscience : 
how dreadful for those who profess religion 
themselves to be guilty of it. It evidently 
arises from the same mistaken, bigoted spirit, 
that burned the protestants under Queen Mary, 
of Britain, and hanged the Quakers of New- 



52 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



England : whether it be among Quakers, Me- 
thodists, Presbyterians, Churchmen, Roman 
Catholics, or any other denomination, it is con- 
trary to the spirit of Christianity. It is one 
principal objection I have to the conduct of the 
people called Quakers, that they are so bigoted 
to their own notions, forms, and mode, that they 
will not allow their children to attend even the 
most plain and religious preaching in the world, 
provided it is not among themselves. I have 
known instances of their young people being 
awakened under our preachers, and they have 
been restrained by their parents, and the heads 
of their meeting, to their great injury ; and 
sometimes, I fear, to their eternal ruin. So 
sacred do they hold their right in membership, 
although mostly obtained by birth, that, gene- 
rally speaking, they appear better contented 
that their children should remain irreligious, 
within the pale of their own Church, than that 
they should become really religious among any 
other people. But to me it appears strange, 
that a people, whose predecessors were so te- 
nacious for liberty of conscience, should fall 
into -the same error that they so loudly con- 
demned in others ; as if it were a greater crime 
in a Churchman or a Presbyterian to restrain a 
child from going to a Quaker meeting, than for 
a Quaker to restrain one from going to a Me- 
thodist or other religious meeting. They cry 
out in the same language against others, that 
others did against them ; so that they are be- 
come too much initiated into the same spirit of 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 53 

bigotry, which they have carried to so great a 
pitch, that they will not allow a minister of Christ, 
if he had as much grace as the Apostle Paul, to 
preach in one of their meeting houses, unless a 
member of their own Church. But, for my part, 
I do not believe that religion consists in either 
form or mode. Neither do I believe a record 
of our names on any Church book under heaven 
will stand the test in the awful hour of accounts, 
unless they are recorded in the Lamb's book 
of life. For my part, I love real heart religion, 
let me find it where I may. 

The second year that I lived in the township 
of Mannington, about the last of December, I 
lost my son Benjamin. He was in the four- 
teenth y ear of his age, and had been experienced 
in religion from the age of seven. When death 
was upon him, I said, Benny, do you know you 
are dying ? He asked me if I thought he was. 
I said yes, in a little time you will stand before 
the eternal God. He instantly prayed as though 
he had been in perfect health : while he was at 
prayer every person in the room wept, and some 
cried quite loud. He then, with a loud and 
strong voice, exhorted the neighbours who were 
present, to prepare to stand before God, and 
turning to his brothers and sisters, he exhorted 
them to prepare to meet him at the right hand 
of God. I then called my wife to come and 
see her son die. She came, and asked him if 
he had no doubt. He answered with great 
fervour, No! mamma, I know that my Re- 
deemer liveth. He then looked at me and said, 



54 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

Father, I shall meet you again in paradise. He 
then pointed with his finger and said, Who are 
them two men standing in white raiment? I 
long to get to them. I am going, said he, and 
that moment he died and fell asleep in the arms 
of Jesus, without a sigh, groan, or struggle. 
On this occasion God gave me resignation ; 
though, as a father, I felt the loss of my son, yet 
I rejoiced that God had taken him to reign with 
Jesus in a better world. I exhorted those who 
were present not to cry, for God had answered 
my prayer, in giving him a happy end, that his 
soul might be conducted by angels to paradise. 
I believe, when he pointed with his finger and 
asked, who they were standing in white, that 
he then saw the angels ready to accompany 
him to heaven. 

On a Saturday night I dreamed that a man 
came to meeting, and stayed in class, and spoke 
as I never had heard any one before. Next 
day, James Sterling came to meeting, stayed in 
class, and spoke much as I had heard and seen 
in my dream. After meeting, I said to my wife, 
that was the very man I had seen in my dream, 
and the Lord would add him to his Church : 
soon after he was thoroughly awakened and 
converted to God. He yet stands fast among 
us, a useful and distinguished member, well 
known by many of our preachers and members. 
Various and many are the particular instances 
of God's great goodness and power; but to 
mention them all, would swell this work too 
large. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 55 

The work became pretty general ; we used 
to hold prayer meetings two or three times a 
week, in the evening, and often they have con- 
tinued until twelve or one o'clock in the. morn- 
ing ; sometimes we would begin preaching at 
eleven o'clock, and meeting not break up till 
night ; many long summer days we thus spent. 
Sometimes we used to assemble in the woods, 
and under the trees ; there not being room in 
the house for the people that attended. Often 
some of them would be' struck to the ground in 
bitter lamentations. The Lord wrought great 
wonders among us. It was truly a fulfilment 
of that scripture which says, u I work a work in 
your days, a work which you shall in no wise 
believe, though a man declare it unto you," 
Acts xiii, 41. Some very pious men thought 
strange of it, and some preachers when they 
visited us could hardly bear it. They thought 
we carried matters too far : one of them, who 
was a great man of God, when he came one 
evening, we had one of those extraordinary 
times. At first he opposed it very pointedly ; 
but afterward, dear man, he was greatly troubled 
about it, and expressed great sorrow that he had 
opposed it. I gave it as my opinion, that we 
ought always to be very careful and cautious 
how we oppose those powerful meetings, lest 
thereby we grieve the Spirit of God, and injure 
souls, and thus be found fighting against God. 

The alarm spread far and near : the friends 
sent for me to come to New-Mills, about sixty 
miles distant : I got ready, and went a day's 



56 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

journey to a small village, and preached at 
night. In the morning my horse was gone ; 
we hunted for him, but all in vain. I wrote 
some advertisements, and returned home. They 
sent for me again ; accordingly, I went, and the 
first time I preached God worked powerfully ; 
we had a weeping time, and one fell to the floor ; 
(this alarmed the people, for they had never 
seen the like before ;) when meeting was over 
we took him to a friend's house, and prayer was 
made for him till the Lord set his soul at liberty, 
and he rejoiced in the love of God. Word 
being sent to his sister that he had found the 
Lord, she said, If my brother has found the 
Lord, I will never rest until I find him. She 
locked herself up in a room, and there prayed 
all night. In the morning the Lord broke in on 
her soul with such rapture of joy, that she 
alarmed the town, and many came to see what 
was the matter. She told them that she had 
found the Lord. 

Next day I preached, and the Lord poured 
out his Spirit among us, so that there was weep- 
ing in abundance, and one fell to the floor : 
many prayers being made for him, he found 
peace before he arose. He is a living witness 
to this day. I saw him not long since, and we 
had a precious time together. 

Next day I travelled some miles, and preached 
in a Presbyterian meeting house. I had a large 
congregation, and spoke from these words, Ye 
must be born again. God attended the word 
with power; some wept, some groaned, and 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



57 



others cried aloud. I believe there were about 
twenty Indians present, and when I came out 
of the pulpit, they got all round me, asking what 
they should do to be saved, and tears ran in 
abundance : many of the white people also 
wept. This was a day of God's power : from 
the accounts afterward given me, twelve were 
converted and many awakened. One who was 
a deacon in the Church found the Lord and 
joined our society : I have spent many precious 
moments with him since that day. Here I told 
my experience, and it proved a blessing to many 
souls. One young man, who went by the name 
of swearing Jack, on account of his profaneness 
in conversation, said, Such a man has been as 
bad as myself, and if he has found peace to his 
soul, why not I? From that very hour he began 
to amend his life, and soon found the Lord pre- 
cious to his soul, and joined class. At quarterly 
meeting I heard him speak his experience, and 
the goodness of God to his soul, and the first 
words he spoke were, " Here stands swearing 
Jack ! but God has pardoned all my sins 
which made a deep impression on the minds 
of the people, and we had a precious, melting 
time. 

Next day I preached at a place called Turnip 
Hill, and we had a precious season. On my 
way to my next appointment, I came to a small 
village, and stopped at a house, and asked the 
man if they had any preaching there : he said, 
No. I said, I am a preacher, and if you will 
give notice, I will preach to the people ; but he 



58 LIFE OF EENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

replied, They do not want preaching here, and 
appeared angry. I then told my experience to 
the man, his wife, and two young women ; and 
the dreadful state that man was in by nature ; 
and then pointed out a Saviour. One of the 
young women began to weep. I was very 
happy, and asked the man if I might pray ; he 
gave me leave, and I said, Let us pray. I had 
no sooner begun than they wept aloud. After 
prayer he asked me if I would take dinner, and 
have my horse fed ? I thanked him and told 
him that 1 had no occasion of any, but if he 
would feed my horse I would thank him ; he 
did so, and I left them all in tears. I saw one 
of the young women some time afterward, and 
she told me that she was awakened at that time, 
and had since found the Lord precious to her 
soul, and joined class. This shows us that we 
ought to sow our seed in the morning, and in ihe 
evening withhold not our hand, for we know not 
which will prosper, this or that, or both alike. 
I went on to my appointment ; here the devil 
was very angry ; I gave out to preach on my 
return, and they threatened, if I came again, to 
tar and feather me. 

I went to Trenton, and our meeting house 
being turned into a stable by the army, they 
gave me leave to preach in the Presbyterian 
meeting house. There was a large congrega- 
tion of dead professors. Next morning, on my 
way to the next appointment, I stopped at an 
uncle's that I had not seen for seventeen years. 
As soon as I saw the house I felt that the Spirit 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 59 

of the Lord would come upon me there, and as 
I set my foot on the steps of the door the Spirit 
of God came upon me. After asking them how 
they all did, I told them my experience. My 
uncle and aunt wept so-re, and I cried out, The 
Lord is here ! A friend being present, said, He 
is come, for I feel his Spirit upon me ; which 
caused my aunt to wonder what this meant. 
The friend asked me if I would go ? I said, If 
uncle Joseph will go with me, I will stay until 
evening. He said he would, so I stayed till 
evening, and they went with rne : I preached 
and we had a melting time. 

Next day I went to brother S. F.'s, and 
preached in the evening to a crowded congre- 
gation, and God poured out his Spirit in such a 
manner that one fell to the floor. A captain 
and some soldiers came to take me up, but the 
Spirit of God took him up in such a manner 
that he returned home crying to God for mercy. 
For six weeks his distress was so great, that 
they had to watch him for fear he would make 
away with himself; but the Lord sent the Com- 
forter to his soul, and filled him with joy un- 
speakable. I saw him some time after, happy 
in God. We spent a precious time together, 
and parted in love. This meeting was a time 
of God's power, many were awakened to a 
sense of their danger, and the people of God 
were happy, and for my part I was very happy. 

I went to my next appointment and preached 
with power; we had a melting time. One 
young woman being powerfully awakened, cried 



60 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



out, "I see Moses and Elias," repeating it 
many times over. I said, See Je-sus ! She re- 
plied, He is coming ! and clasping her arms to 
her body, cried several times, I have got him ! 
I have got him ! and sprung up, shouting praises 
to God for her soul's deliverance. I said, If you 
have got him, be sure to keep him close to your 
heart. I will, said she. There was also pre- 
sent a Quaker woman^ the wife of a Quaker 
preacher's son, who resided in Pennsylvania ; 
she had dreamed the night before that she saw 
two doves, the one milk white, and the other 
speckled, and that she must go to the place, 
and they would lead her to a spring as clear as 
crystal, and there she should drink her fill. — 
Next morning, on the strength of her dream, 
she took her horse and chaise, and crossed the 
Delaware river, and came to the house just as 
I was going to preach in the evening. The 
Lord sent the word to her heart with such 
power, that she cried out, I shall be dead and 
damned before morning ! Many prayers were 
sent up to God on her behalf. This meeting 
continued till eleven o'clock ; we then retired 
to bed, and, in the dead of night, she and the 
woman of the house came into the room where 
we lay, wringing her hands, crying, I shall be 
dead and damned before morning ! desiring 
that we would get up and pray for her : we arose, 
and she related her dream. The woman of the 
house replied, These are the two doves. It 
struck me like a clap of thunder, I am the 
speckled one. This caused me to search my 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 61 

heart. I exhorted her to pray for herself ; she 
did so, again and again, and we did the same 
for her. I then exhorted her to believe on the 
Lord Jesus ; but she still received no answer 
of peace to her soul. We retired to bed again, 
but she walked the floor the remainder of the 
night. I think I never saw a poor soul in 
deeper distress. In the morning, after prayer, 
I took my farewell of the family : to her I said, 
I never expect to see thee any more, until I see 
thee in a world of spirits ; but she replied, Thou 
wilt see me again, and asked me when I would 
be at home. I told her, and exhorted her to be 
engaged with God, and he would bless her soul. 
The woman of the house told me that she in- 
tended to come to my house as soon as I got 
home. But in two or three days she found 
God precious to her soul. I saw her again, 
about sixteen years after, and we had a precious 
time, in conversing together on the things of 
God : she could then talk Canaan's language. 

Sabbath day I preached in the morning, at a 
preaching house, to a number of people ; after < 
meeting, my nephew asked me to dine with him, 
with about one dozen more. When we sat 
down, I asked God for a blessing, and he 
poured out his Spirit in such a manner that the 
tears flowed in abundance. I exhorted them 
all to fly to Jesus. My soul was so happy that 
I could not eat ; they then said to me, Why do 
you not eat? I answered, God has given me 
meat to eat that you know not of. Upon this 
we had a shower of tears, and dinner was laid 



€2 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

by. I said, Let us pray, and we all kneeled 
down at the table, and I prayed : one cried out 
for mercy : when I arose, gave them an ex- 
hortation, and then went to my other appoint- 
ment, and preached in a Presbyterian meeting 
house to a hard-hearted people. 

Monday I went to see some relations that I 
had not seen for many years. Whan I came to 
the ferry and had paid my passage, I met my 
uncle and aunt, whom I shook hands with, and 
she said, Benjamin, I have had no rest since I 
saw your face, but am like Noah's dove out of 
the ark. We all went together to another of my 
aunt's ; whom I informed that if she would give 
notice to her neighbours, I would preach to 
them. Accordingly she sent her boys round 
the neighbourhood, and we had a large congre- 
gation : after preaching, several of my relations 
tarried, to whom I related the works of God 
which I had seen in many places, and also my 
conviction and conversion, and asked them if 
they had ever found such a change in their 
hearts ? They said, No. We had a weeping 
time all the evening ; my aunt, that was awa- 
kened, often withdrew from us, and they said to 
her, What is the matter, are you sick] I de- 
sired them to let her alone. About twelve 
o'clock we went to bed, but sleep departed from 
me, and I prayed for her all night ; and in the 
morning, when I arose, my uncle and aunt were 
not up, but when they came out of their room, 
I saw an alteration in her face, and wanted to 
get at her heart, and therefore said, the darkest 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 63 



time in the night was just before day ; they re- 
plied, Yes. Just so, said I, it is with the soul ; 
the devil seems ready to take it away just be- 
fore its conversion. This, said she, was the 
case with me ; I prayed in an agony all night, 
expecting to be in hell before morning, and 
sweated to that degree that I believe I had not 
a dry thread on me. I besought the Lord that 
if he would not hear me, that he would hear 
your prayers for me. I saw your prayers be- 
fore the Father and Son in my behalf, and in a 
moment I felt my burden removed, and such 
joy in my heart, that I was as one illuminated 
with the love of God in my soul ; I clasped my 
husband in my arms for joy, and told him what 
great things God had done for my soul : and I 
now feel the same power. They all wept, and 
I said, This is the religion of Jesus. I took 
my leave of them, and went to see an aunt that 
was a Quaker ; after some conversation, I told 
her my experience, and asked if I should go to 
prayer 1 She answered, Thee may : I did so, 
and we had a melting time — even the little chil- 
dren wept. I left them all in tears, and went 
with my uncle and aunt to the ferry, and told 
them to go on Thursday and join class, and so 
we parted. I went to Trenton and told brother 
Cotts what the Lord had done, and advised 
him to go and meet the class : he did so : my 
uncle and aunt were there. After class, she 
desired the Lord to show her what to do, and 
as they were riding home, the night being very 
dark, a glorious light shone all round the wagon, 



64 LIFL OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

so that she said she could see to pick up a pin. 
She then asked them if they saw the light ; they 
said they did see it. Now, said she, I will join 
the class ; and so she did, and became a worthy 
member, and remains so to this day. 

I went to my next appointment, where they 
had threatened to tar and feather me. Some 
advised me to go some other way ; but when I 
arrived at the place, I found a large congrega- 
tion assembled, to whom I preached, and God 
attended the word with power : many shed tears 
in abundance. One young woman stood by 
the fire and leaned her head against the mantel 
piece, and wept to that degree that the tears 
dropped on the hearth until they made a small 
puddle. When I came to my application, I 
told them that I came to seek a bride for my 
Master, and added, if you will deal kindly with 
him, tell me. Upon which the young woman 
pressed through the crowd to me, and said, I 
will go with all my heart. I applied all the 
promises that I was able, and told her that he 
would receive her. As I was about to depart, 
two young men came to me — one took hold of 
my leg, and the other held my horse by the neck, 
and said, Will you go ? I set on my horse for 
some time, exhorting them to persevere, and 
the Lord would bless them. Many more stood 
weeping ; so we parted, and I went to the New 
Mills. Here the people came out by hundreds, 
to whom I preached my farewell sermon. I 
returned home, and by Thursday night a letter 
was sent, informing me sixteen were justified 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 65 



and two sanctified. The reading of this letter 
fiiled my soul with love, and I was determined 
to preach sanctification more than ever. 

I received a letter from a Presbyterian in 
Deerfield, that his house and heart were open 
to receive me, that they had sinners in Deer* 
field, adding, " When you read these lines, look 
upon it as a call from God." I accordingly 
wrote to him to make an appointment for me 
on the Sunday following. I attended, and 
found a large congregation, to whom I preached, 
and some few wept. I attended again that day 
two weeks, and we had a melting time. I then 
made an appointment for the travelling preacher. 
This, and several other places in the neighbour- 
hood, were taken into the circuit. The Lord 
began to work in a powerful manner, and we 
soon had two classes ; then the devil roared 
horribly ; but God worked powerfully : many 
of the Presbyterians joined society, some of 
whom were had up before the Presbyterian 
Church, but all to no purpose ; they stood fast, 
and the Lord blessed the word, and sent it with 
power to many hearts : many fell under the 
mighty power of God, like dead men, being 
alarmed of their danger. We appointed a 
watch-j?ight. This brought so many to see 
what it meant, that the house could not contain 
the people. One of our preachers preached, 
and then an exhortation was given : the Lord 
poured out his Spirit in such a manner, that the 
slairi lay all over the house ; many others were 
prevented from falling by the crowd, which stood 



66 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



so close that they supported one another. "We 
continued till about twelve o'clock, and some 
stayed all night, and in the morning others 
came ; several found peace, and many cried to 
God for mercy : it was a powerful time to many 
souls. Here my antagonist, the Baptist preacher, 
who afterward turned Universalist, and then 
Deist, came again, and preached the necessity 
of water baptism. He stole away nine of our 
sheep, and run them into a mill pond. This 
made a division among the people ; however, 
the work of the Lord went on, and those who 
joined him, in less than two years, were all 
fallen from grace, except two ; but said he, 
Once in grace, always in grace, and God could 
as soon fall as one of you. However, he soon 
showed his cloven foot, by turning his back on 
the Church and cause of God ; and preached 
up the doctrine the devil did to Eve, Thou shalt 
not surely die,— that there was no hell, or place 
of future punishment. His conduct corres- 
ponded with his doctrine, and they were left 
without a teacher. 

The next meeting we had here, one was 
sanctified, and two justified ; at another, we had 
the shout of a king in the camp of Israel. 

I went to a quarterly meeting at Morris river, 
and we had a powerful time ; the slain lay all 
through the house, and round it, and in the 
woods, crying to God for mercy ; and others 
praising God for the deliverance of their souls. 
At this time there came up the river a lock-out 
boat ; the crew landed and came to the meet- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 67 

ing ; one of them stood by a woman that lay 
on the ground, crying to God for mercy, and 
said to her, Why do you not cry louder? she 
immediately began to pray for him, and the 
power of the Lord struck him to the ground, 
and he lay and cried for mercy louder than the 
woman. This meeting continued from eleven 
o'clock till night. How many were converted 
or sanctified is to me unknown. Next day I 
preached at brother GofPs and had a precious 
time. 

I went to my next appointment, and preached 
from these words : " Who hath believed our 
report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord re- 
vealed V 7 One woman said that God had con- 
verted her soul. The Lord attended the word 
with power, many were melted into tears ; one 
drunken man made some noise, but a magis- 
trate ordered him to behave himself, and we 
had a peaceable waiting before the Lord. 

At iny next appointment the Lord made bare 
his arm of almighty power in such a manner 
that many fell to the floor ; their cries were very 
great, the sinners sprang to the doors and win- 
dows, and fell one over another in getting out ; 
five jumped out at a window ; and one woman 
went close by me and cried, You are a devil ! 
A young man cried out, Command the peace ! 
but the magistrate answered, It is the power of 
God. Another, with tears in his eyes, entreated 
the people to hold their peace ; to which an old 
woman replied, They cannot hold their peace, 
unless you cut out their tongues. Glory to 



68 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

God, this day will never be forgotten, either in 
time or eternity ! I was as happy as I could 
contain. 

Brother Creafy told me that we should have 
nobody out next day ; but I replied that we 
should have the more ; and so it was, for we 
had a crowded congregation, and some cried 
out under the word. Here I was warmly at- 
tacked by a Baptist ; but glory to God, the 
Scriptures were opened to my mind, and he 
could not withstand the power of truth. 

Next day I preached at Mr. Wolsey's, and 
had a melting time, and many were much 
wrought upon. I told the people that they had 
often heard preaching from the word of the 
Lord, but to-morrow, tell your neighbours, I 
will preach from the w ords of the devil. That 
night sleep departed from me, and my mind was 
like a troubled sea. What can you raise from 
the words of the devil 1 was constantly upper- 
most in my mind. At length I concluded I 
would take another text. But on a second 
reflection I found this would not answer, as I 
should be called a liar, and cause the truth to 
be evil spoken of. Thus I spent the night in a 
very restless manner. In the morning, on my 
way to the place appointed, I found the road 
crowded with people : when I arrived at the 
place, I retired into the woods and besought the 
Lord to discover some way to me, that I might 
deliver his word, if consistent to his will, from 
the text I proposed. I then returned in heavi- 
ness to the house, where I found a great crowd* 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



69 



both within and without. I took my stand, and 
gave out my hymn, sung and prayed ; and, 
according to my promise, gave out my text : 
" Again the devil taketh him up into an exceed- 
ing high mountain, and showeth him all the 
kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them* 
and saith unto him, All these things will I give 
thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me," 
Matt, iv, 8, 9. Such a light broke on my soul, 
on giving out the text, that I was enabled to 
preach with great liberty : many were cut to 
the heart, and wept all through the house. 

Next day I went to my appointment at N* 
C.'s : soon after I began, a house caught fire 
about thirty yards distance, and was burnt, 
which broke up our meeting. 

I went to Mr. Smith's, on Tuckehoe river, 
and preached ; and the Lord attended the word 
with power. One fell to the floor : I then asked 
the people what they thought of it, and if they 
did not think it was of the devil. If it is, said 
I, when she comes to, she will curse and swear, 
but if it is of God, she will praise him ; therefore 
stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. 
The people stood amazed while she lay strug- 
gling on the floor for life. When she came to, 
she praised the Lord with a loud voice, and 
every power of her soul, declaring that God had 
sanctified her soul. I then met the society, and 
I impressed sane tifi cation on them. God struck 
a woman to the floor, who had been fifteen years 
a professor of justification, and after some time 
she arose and declared that God had sanctified 



70 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT, 



her soul. I exhorted all round her to claim the 
promise, and while she was speaking, God 
struck six or seven to the floor. I then opened 
the doors and windows, and desired the wicked 
to come and see the mighty power of God for 
themselves ; and added, If you will not believe 
this, you would not believe, if God Almighty 
were to speak to you, as he did to Moses, in a 
flame of fire ; and before the meeting was over, 
six or seven professed sanctification of soul, 
among whom was the wife of J. Brick, Esquire, 
who had been justified only eight days before. 

Next morning I went to Esquire Champion's 
and preached with great liberty. The meeting 
began at eleven o'clock in the morning, and 
lasted until about midnight : before it was over, 
seven found peace with God, and joined society. 
Here I was as happy in my own soul as I 
could wish, either to live or die. 

Next day I preached at brother Hews' to a 
precious, loving people ; and as soon as I had 
kneeled down, before I had uttered one sen- 
tence, they all cried out, Amen. After preach- 
ing, in class, I endeavoured to teach them the 
meaning and nature of the term amen. 

At my next appointment I preached with great 
liberty from these words, " If we say that we 
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth 
is not in us ; if we confess our sins, he is faith- 
ful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse 
us from all unrighteousness," 1 John i, 8, 9, 
and many wept much. A Baptist being present, 
who had been a great enemy to religion, when 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 71 

I had done, I asked him what he thought of what 
he had heard, and whether it was not the truth, 
as it was in Jesus. He replied, it was, and 
exhorted the people to believe it. 

Next day I went to my appointment at Wire- 
town ; but a woman being dead close at hand, 
I was requested to preach her funeral sermon. 
While I was speaking, I observed to my hearers, 
that the darkest time in the night was just before 
the dawning of the day ; and that this was the 
case with a soul groaning for redemption in 
Christ ; for just as they saw themselves on the 
very brink of eternal damnation, destitute of 
-every power to extricate themselves, the Sun of 
righteousness, the Lord of life and glory, broke 
in on their souls and set them at liberty. Up 
rose a Baptist woman, and said that she had come 
twenty miles through the snow to hear me ; and 
then related her experience, to the following 
purport : " I was standing on the hearth with 
my husband and two children, and thought the 
hearth opened before me, and I saw hell from 
beneath opened, and devils ready to receive me : 
I then started and ran into the room, and threw 
myself on the floor, and cried mightily unto God 
to have mercy on my soul : mean while my 
husband went after the cattle, and I continued 
in prayer until the house was filled with the glory 
of God, brighter than tho sun at noonday. I 
then arose and sat on the foot of the bed, wish- 
ing for my husband to return : after awhile he 
came ; 1 ran out to meet him, and clasped him 
round the neck, and told him what God had 



72 



Life of benjamin abboti. 



done for my soul. The power of the Lord came 
upon me again, as it had done in the house, and 
I cried out in such a manner that it frightened 
my husband and the cattle so that the cattle ran 
off again, and my husband went away also. I 
went to the house happy in God. And bur 
people (meaning the Baptists) say it is only a 
delusion of the devil, for that God did not come 
to people in such a manner now-a-days." Then 
asked me what I thought of it ; " for I feel," 
said she, " the same power on me now." I told 
her it was the work of God, a change of heart, 
and that if ever the Lord had converted my soul, 
he had converted hers. She immediately laid 
hold of faith, and was instantly delivered from 
that anxiety and despair that had attended her 
mind. She rode next day with one of our friends 
to a place called Goodluck, where I preached 
from these words, " Awake, thou that sleepest, 
and arise from the dead* and Christ shall give; 
thee light," Eph. v, 14, with great liberty, and 
the power of God attended the word. 

Next day I rode with one of our friends about 
twelve miles, through a north-east storm of hail, 
to Esquire Akin's, on Tom's river. When we 
arrived there we were both wet and cold ; after 
drying myself a little, I gave an exhortation to 
the few present, and tarried all night. 

In the morning I went to my appointment, 
had an attentive congregation, and the Lord 
attended the word with power. A Frenchman 
fell to the floor, and never arose until the Lord 
converted his soul. Here we had a happy time. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN AKEOTT. 73 



Next day I went to my appointment, at the 
house of a Baptist man ; here a dispute arose 
With the man concerning a piece published by 
one of our preachers on baptism, which gave him 
great umbrage ; and he objected to my preaching 
in his house. I remained perfectly composed 
and easy whether I preached or not. Brother 
Sterling, who had met me here* reasoned the 
case with him until he gave his consent. I then 
went to my stand, gave out my hymn, sung and 
prayed, took my text, and began to preach, and 
the Lord's mighty power attended the word. 
The people wept all through the house, and the 
man of the house trembled like Belshazzar: 
after I had done, I asked if there was any person 
there who would open their house for preaching. 
A man present answered, that we might preach 
at his house, which was just across the way ; 
accordingly I appointed a meeting that day 
fortnight. The man of the house that had ob- 
jected to my preaching in his house, afterward 
desired that I would preach in it again in the 
evening: I told him that as the people were 
chiefly gone, it would answer but little purpose 
to make another appointment ; but he said that 
he would send and give information to his neigh- 
bours : he did so, and I preached to them, and 
hope that all the seed will not fall to the ground. 

Next morning I went to my appointment at 
Mr. W.'s : I retired in secret. The power of 
the IiOrd came upon me in such a manner that 
I lost the power of my body, and cried out in 
such a manner that I alarmejd the people, who 



74 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

had never seen the like before. When I reco- 
vered a little I went and preached to them, and 
we had a precious time. Here I met with an 
old Israelite : we spent some precious time 
together. The night before I came, he was in 
soul distress, and experienced a deliverance. 
He and four of his family were happy in God. 

I set out for quarterly meeting, and on my 
way I stopped to get my horse shod, and went 
to a house where I found an old woman spin- 
ning, and asked her for a drink of water : she 
gave it to me. I said to her, You have given 
me drink to refresh my body, I will strive to 
give you the waters of life, by persuading you 
to make application to Jesus. After telling her 
Ithe terrors of the law, and the promises of the 
Gospel, I asked leave to pray, which she granted. 
Three years after, as I was on my way to a 
quarterly meeting, 1 met with about twenty 
persons, who were on their way to the same 
meeting. As soon as they saw me, a woman 
from among them ran to me, and said to me, 
" How do you do, my father ? w I asked her how 
she came to know me 1 she answered, " I will 
soon convince you I have cause to know you : 
do you not remember asking me for a drink of 
water, and that you set before me the plan of 
salvation, and went to prayer with me? You 
had not been gone half an hour, before I expect- 
ed to be in hell every moment. I cried to God 
mightily without any intermission, until he set 
my soul at liberty, therefore I call you my 
spiritual father." At quarterly meeting we 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 75 

opened our love-feast with prayer, and the Lord 
made bare his arm ; some fell to the floor, and 
others ran away. Such a time they never had 
before. I. W. exhorted the mourners very 
powerfully, being himself converted the night 
before. The old lady, his mother, was very 
happy. When I was about t© go, she put two 
dollars into my hand. This was the first that 
I had ever received as a preacher, but He that 
was mindful of the young ravens was mindful 
of me. I had always travelled at my own charge 
before. When I received this, I had but fifteen 
pence in my pocket, and was above two hundred 
miles from home. 

I went to an appointment in a Baptist settle- 
ment and preached with great liberty. Two 
fell, and never ceased to cry to God for mercy 
until he set their souls at liberty ; many were 
much affected, and some deeply awakened. 
There was an old Baptist, Mr. Bray, that asked 
me home with hirn, and as I went, he desired 
to stop at a house to go to prayer. Here we 
found several persons deeply awakened, who 
had been at meeting : after prayer, I gave them 
an exhortation, and then went on with my friend, 
where, to my great surprise, I found about forty 
persons assembled. The old man being fond 
of poetry, he began with hymns and psalms, &c. 
I sat silent, while he went on for some time ; 
when he had done I began to relate the won- 
derful work of God, that I had seen through the 
land — souls converted, souls sanctified, drunk- 
ards become sober men, &c. One of the young 



76 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

men present, said, It beats all the preaching 
that ever I heard of since I was born, and if 
there is such a God as you speak of, I am deter- 
mined to find him before morning. I then ex- 
horted him with all my power, applying the 
promises, and told him if he sought, he should 
surely find. He went home and retired to his 
barn, and there continued all night in prayer ; 
sometimes on his knees, and sometimes on his 
face. Next morning, a.bout an hour by sun, 
the Sun of righteousness broke in and spoke 
peace to his soul. Xo^, says he, are these the 
people that we used to call deceivers, and false 
teachers ? that God would convert another 
soul that there might be two witnesses for Jesus 
to-day ; that out of the mouth of two witnesses 
every word might be established ! As he was 
on his way to meeting, he met with nine or ten 
others ; just as they turned the corner of the 
house to go in, a young man fell to the ground, 
and never ceased crying to God, until he spoke 
peace to his soul. They then came into the 
house, and the first one began to exhort the 
people, bathed in tears, telling them that they 
had called these people antichristians, but that 
he knew that they were the servants of the living 
God — exhorting them to believe. After him 
arose the other, who had just found peace at the 
door, and began to tell what God had done for 
his soul, exhorting them likewise to believe, 
while tears flowed from many ^yes. % I then 
arose, gave out a hymn, sung and prayed ; but 
having taken such cold the over night, that 



LIFE OP BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 77 



instead of preaching, I could only whisper to 
them. 

Next morning I went to my appointment, but 
my cold had so increased that I was unable to 
preach, and only whispered them an exhortation. 
Next day I went to brother Fidler's, and preach- 
ed in the evening ; we had a precious time with 
the little society. A few days after I rode to 
Trenton. I began to preach at candle light, to 
a large congregation, which caused the devil to 
roar. While I was on my second head, his 
children, in the street, cried fire ! fire ! This 
alarmed the people, and they ran off instantly 
through the town, in search of the fire, but found 
none. When the tumult was over, I was re- 
quested to return and preach again, but I sent 
the people word that I should preach no more 
that night. 

Next morning I set out for quarterly meeting 
at New Mills. After our meeting had been 
opened and several exhortations given, brother 
C. Cotts went to prayer, and several fell to the 
floor, and many were affected, and we had a 
powerful time. After meeting, brother J. S. 
and several others wept with me to I. B.'s, 
where we tarried all night. Here we found a 
woman in distress of soul ; after prayer, we 
retired to bed. In the morning brother S. went 
to prayer, and after him myself. The distressed 
woman Jay as in the agonies of death near one 
hour ; when she arose, she went into her room 
to prayer, and soon after returned and professed 
faith in Christ. She and her husband went with 



78 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

us to brother H.'s, where about forty persons 
had assembled to wait for us in order to have 
prayer before we parted. As soon as I entered 
the house, a woman entreated me to pray for \ 
her, and added, I am going to hell, I have no " 
God! I exhorted her and all present, setting 
before them the curses of God's law against 
sin ; and likewise I applied the promises of the 
Gospel to the penitent ; then a young woman 
came to me and said, Father Abbott, pray to 
God to give me a clean heart. I replied, God 
shall give you one this moment. How I came 
to use the word shall, I know not, but she drop- 
ped at that instant into my arms as one dead. 
I then claimed the promises and cried to God, 
exhorting them all to look to God for clean 
hearts, and he would do great things for them, 
at which about twenty more fell to the floor. 
When the young woman came to, she declared 
that God had sanctified her soul. I saw her 
many years after, and her life and conversation 
adorned the Gospel. Prayer was kept up with- 
out, intermission for the space of three hours ; 
eight souls professed sanctin* cation, and three 
Indian women justification in Christ Jesus. 
44 Of a truth God is no respecter of persons ; 
but in every nation, he that feareth God and 
worketh righteousness, shall be accepted of 
him." Of this we had a manifest instance, 
while we beheld the mighty power of God, and 
the slain lying through the house like dead men. 

My next appointment was that evening at 
early candle light, about forty miles distance, 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 79 

and it was eleven O'clock before we were ready 
to start. We stopped at Moorestown and re- 
freshed ourselves, then pushed on to J. C.'s, 
on Mantua Creek : being rather late, they had 
begun to sing before we arrived : I preached to 
the people, and we had a melting time. After 
meeting, in family worship, two or three went 
to prayer ; the mighty power of God struck a 
young woman to the floor: her screams and 
screeches were such that my pen is unable to 
describe. She rolled from place to place, on 
the floor, like one of the damned in torments. 
Her mother ran to take her away. When I saw 
it, I desired her father not to suffer her to be 
removed ; her mother then retired to her room 
and left us. Prayer was kept up all night, with- 
out intermission. She continued her cries until 
sun about one hour high, by which time the 
house was filled with the neighbours, and the 
Lord spoke peace to her soul. A young man 
came in ; brother F. S. took him by the hand 
and said, brother C. had a daughter converted 
this morning, and she wants to speak with you : 
he led him to her ; she took him by the hand, 
and began to exhort him with tears ; he began 
to tremble and scream in an awful manner, and 
in about two or three days he found peace. 
There came in also an elderly man, and brother 
F. S. took him in like manner to her, and she 
began to warn and exhort him, while he trem- 
bled, and tears flowed in abundance. She then 
said, God had called her to go from house to 
house, and warn her neighbours to flee from the 



80 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



wrath to come. Several of our friends tarried 
and went with her for three days, but we re- 
turned home, from which I had been absent 
about six weeks. 

Soon after, I removed to lower Penns-neck 
with my family, where I found a set of as hard- 
ened sinners as were out of hell. I preached 
again and again, and all to no purpose. Brother 
Pedicord and brother Metcalf came to my 
house, and I told them that I was almost dis- 
couraged. When they heard it, they were so 
distressed that they could not eat breakfast, but 
retired to their room, where they remained until 
about one or two o'clock. When they came 
down stairs, brother P. said, Father Abbott, do 
not be discouraged ; these people will yet 
hunger and thirst after the word of God, and 
appeared cheerful. In the evening he preached 
to the neighbours, and next day they went on 
their circuits. 

I went to B. Wetherby's, at Quinten's bridge, 
near Salem, where I frequently preached ; here 
we soon raised a class, among whom were 
brother H. F firth, John M'Claskey, and others, 
who became useful and worthy members of the 
Church. 

One day, as I was preaching, I. Holladay, 
of lower Penns-neck, stopped to hear, and the 
word reached his heart : after sermon, he asked 
me if I would come and preach at his house ; 
I asked him if I should give it out for the circuit 
preacher; he said, yes. I did so, and after 
bidding the family farewell, an officer of the 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 81 

army being present, I took him by the hand, and 
«aid, M God out of Christ is a consuming fire," 
— farewell ; and so we parted. God pursued 
him from the very door, and gave him no rest ; 
before twelve o'clock that night he was out of 
bed on the floor at prayer. In about two months 
his soul was set at liberty, and he is a member 
of our Church at the present period. 

The day appointed at Mr. Holladay's, the 
travelling preacher came, and a great concourse 
attended, to whom he preached ; some seemed 
awakened, some disputed, and some were in 
great consternation. When he concluded, he 
asked if he should give out preaching there 
again. Mr. H. replied, he might. At the time 
appointed, abundance of people attended, to 
whom brother Ivy preached with great power, 
being full of faith and the Holy Ghost. Many 
of the people wept, and it was a good season. 
By this time, there were many doors opened. 
One cried, Preach at my house ; and another, 
Preach at my house, &c 

The next appointment was made at J. D.'s 
for brother Dudley : he came and preached 
with power. After meeting I told them, that 
that day week I would declare to them, " Even 
the mystery which hath been hid from ages, and 
from generations, but now is made manifest to 
his saints, to whom God would make known 
what is the riches of the glory of this mystery, 
among the Gentiles ; which is Christ in you the 
hope of glory, whom we preach, warning every 
man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, tha 
6 



82 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABEOTT. 



we may present every man perfect in Christ 
Jesus. Whereunto I also labour, striving ac- 
cording to his working which worketh in me 
mightily," Col. i, 26-29. The people con- 
cluded that I was going to prophesy, and would 
tell how the war would terminate : this brought 
abundance together. I preached, and God 
attended the word with power. I had not spo- 
ken long before a professing Quaker said, it 
was mystery to him ; but before I concluded* 
himself, his wife, son, and daughter, were all 
struck under conviction, and never rested until 
they all found rest to their souls, and joined 
society. About six months after the son died 
in a triumph of faith : the father was taken ill 
at the funeral, and never went out of his house 
again, until carried to his grave. He departed 
this life, praising God in a transport of joy. By 
this time, there was a general alarm spread 
through the neighbourhood. We had prayer 
meetings two or three times a week, and at 
almost every meeting, some were either con- 
vinced or converted. One old woman, to whose 
soul the Lord had spoken peace, clapped her 
hands, and began to praise the creature instead 
of the Creator. I stepped to her and said, I 
have done nothing for you, — if there be any 
good, it is the Lord that has done it, and there- 
fore praise God. O, said she, but you are a 
dear good creature for all ! I turned away and 
went among the people. At this meeting we had 
the shout and the power of Israel's God in the 
camp ; prayer was kept up until near midnight. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 83 



Next morning a young man came to my 
house, to know what he must do to be saved : 
I applied the promises of the Gospel, and then 
went to prayer, and after me, my wife, and then 
my daughter Martha ; and while supplicating 
the throne of grace on his behalf, the Lord, in 
his infinite goodness, spoke peace to his soul ; 
and we were all made partakers of the blessing. 
He joined society, lived several years, and died 
clapping his hands, and shouting, Glory to 
God ! I am going home ! That moment his 
hands ceased clapping, he died. 

We had now about twenty-two or three in 
society ; but persecution soon arose, and the 
devil stirred up one J. N., a professor of religion 
among the Prebyterians, who at first appeared 
very friendly, and was active in bringing us into 
the neighbourhood ; but soon after, he became 
an instrument in the hand of the devil to oppose 
and lay waste the truth, and did much hurt to 
the cause of God, and all under the cloak of 
religion. He went among our young converts, 
and told them that God had revealed it to him, 
that the spirit which they professed to receive 
at their conversions, was of the devil, and not 
the Spirit of Christ : but glory to God, it was 
not in the power of men or devils to extinguish 
the Divine flame, although they cast a cloud on 
many minds, and turned some out of the way. 

The height of my harvest being on our meet- 
ing day, when meeting time came, I told my 
reapers that they must all go to meeting, and that 
I would pay them their wages as though they 



84 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



were at work. We all went, and God wrought 
powerfully ; several fell to the floor, and two 
found peace : it was a great day to many. 
After meeting we returned to our work again. 

I continued for about two months to preach 
under the trees, as the house would not contain 
the people. We seldom had a meeting, during 
that period, but what some where either con- 
vinced, converted, or sanctified. 

I now thought it might be expedient to make 
an attempt toward building a meeting house. 
A subscription was drawn for that purpose ; but 
not being able to obtain a suitable piece of 
ground to build on, as those who had such re- 
fused to sell, it fell through for nearly four 
years, and we continued our meetings as be- 
fore. 

One day, while I was speaking, the power of 
the Lord laid hold on a Quaker woman, and as 
she was about to escape, she fell on her hands 
and knees. Some of her friends helped her up, 
got her into a wagon, and carried her otf. I 
was afterward informed that it took them two 
weeks to kill her convictions. The work of 
the Lord went on among the people, and I con- 
tinued to impress the necessity of sanctification 
upon believers. We had at that time twelve 
children who were converted to God. One of 
our sisters got deeply convinced that she must 
be holy in heart ; and one night the Spirit of 
God came upon her, so that she arose out of 
her bed, went on her knees, and prayed to God 
to give her a clean heart, and to sanctify her 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT* 85 

nature ; her mother ran and caught her about 
the neck, and told her to go to bed, for there 
was no occasion for so much ado about religion. 
She went to bed, but without the blessing, 
though her distress was so great that she could 
not rest. Soon she was upon the floor again, 
crying earnestly to God ; her mother hauled 
her on the bed again ; she then rose again and 
entreated her mother to let her alone, and she 
then forebore. While she continued wrestling 
with God for the blessing, the power of the Lord 
came upon her, so that she lost the use of her 
bodily powers for some time. When she came 
to again, she knew that God had sanctified her 
soul. 

It is about fifteen years since she received 
this inestimable blessing ; and from that time 
to this her life and conduct have adorned the 
Gospel. 

Next evening at class meeting she came and 
rehearsed the matter, and told us that God had 
sanctified her soul : this gave a fresh spring to 
many. A few days after one of our sisters was 
engaged with God for a clean heart : she went 
five times on her knees to prayer, and then 
concluded that she was going to die. 0, said 
she, that Daddy Abbott was here to see me die ! 
Then she went to prayer again, but still grew 
worse. She went to the door to call some near 
neighbours, but could not utter one word ; she 
then shut the door, and went to prayer the 
seventh time ; and the power of the Lord came 
wonderfully upon her, and she fell to the floor 



86 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

as one dead. When she came to, she knew 
that God had sanctified her soul ; she then 
arose, and at that instant I came in at the door, 
and she cried out, Daddy Abbott, God has given 
me a clean heart ! At that moment God sealed 
it so to my heart, that I cried out and could not 
forbear: we rejoiced together in a glorious hope 
of immortality. This alarmed several, and set 
them all on fire for sanctification. 

The next meeting day in time of preaching, 
we had a powerful time, and a. number fell to 
the floor ; one man attempted to run off, but 
God laid him down at the door. A woman 
made the same attempt, but the Spirit of the 
eternal God arrested her, and she fell back into 
the house just as she was going out of the door. 
After preaching we had a blessed time in class : 
while claiming the promises several were soon 
down, both on the right and left : some found 
peace, and others professed sanctification. One 
very wicked woman was arrested by the mighty 
power of God, and scrabbled out at the door, 
and laid hold of a cheese press to prevent her- 
self from falling. After awhile she set off for 
home, and when about half way, she began to 
conclude that it was only a fright, occasioned 
by seeing others so agitated ; and as she was 
passing through a skirt of wood, she was again 
arrested by the Spirit of God, which convinced 
her of omnipotent power : and trembling, she 
went home and threw herself on the bed, and 
there lost the usual power of her body and 
limbs, and shook to that degree, that the bed on 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 87 



which she lay trembled under her. The alarm 
ran through the neighbourhood with as great 
surprise as if one had been murdered. 

In the evening I went to see her, where I 
found about forty of the neighbours assembled 
to see what was the matter. She then lay 
shaking, as heretofore, in a very strange manner. 
I then exhorted the people, and told them that 
this was the wonderful work of God; and that 
if they would not believe it, they would not be- 
lieve if God Almighty was to stand by them, as 
he stood by Moses in a flame of fire. The 
people looked as if they were under sentence 
of death, while an awful terror was stamped on 
every face. She then broke out in exhortation, 
exhorting them all not to live as she had done. 
You see, said she, what sin has brought me to. 
She spoke near one hour, and many wept under 
her exhortation. Whenever an opportunity 
offered, I threw in a word for Jesus. She con- 
tinued in this strange posture two days and 
nights, and then the Lord gave her strength to 
get out of bed, but as yet she had not found 
peace. In the evening of the third day she 
came to my house to family duty, and the Lord 
set her soul at liberty. She returned home 
rejoicing in God her Saviour, joined society, 
and continued a faithful member about six 
months. Her case afterward was singular : 
a dispute between her husband and one of our 
members, being left to men, was decided against 
him ; this gave her such umbrage that she came 
no more to meeting ; soon she returned to her 



88 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

old practices again, and became a twofold 
worse child of hell than at the beginning, — 
cursing, swearing, and blaspheming in a most 
horrid manner. 

In about eighteen months after, God sent the 
grim monster death to arrest her. In her sick- 
ness she sent for me. I went and exhorted 
her to try to turn to God ; but she said, she 
could not see how God could have mercy on 
her, as she had sinned so grievously against 
such light and knowledge. There being seve- 
ral backsliders present, she exhorted them to 
turn to God before it was eternally too late. — 
I endeavoured to apply all the promises for 
backsliders from Genesis to Revelation, but 
without faith. I then called the people together, 
and w r ent to prayer, hut it seemed as if my mouth 
was stopped, and my prayers were without ac- 
cess. I arose from prayer and exhorted her to 
try to pray, but she replied, I have no heart or 
power to pray : but, said I, keep begging of 
God to give you a heart to pray, for the spirit 
of prayer is the gift of God, and you have your 
i senses* and who knows what God may do for 
you. So I bade her farewell and went home. 
They sent for me again ; but I told the messen- 
ger that my temporal affairs were in such a 
situation that I could not then go. In the 
afternoon her son came to me again; I told him 
I could not well go. O, do go ! (said he, and 
burst into a flood of tears,) for she frightens us 
so that we are afraid to stay in the house. I 
told him to go by the house and ask my daughter 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 89 

Rebecca, (intending to go myself in the even- 
ing ;) he did so, and she went. She found a 
number of the neighbours gathered, expecting 
the woman was dying. When she went in, 
the sick woman was pointing with her hand, 
saying to the by-stander3, do not you see the 
devils there ready to seize my soul and drag it 
to hell 1 Some of them said, there are no devils 
here, she is~out of her senses ; but she replied, 
I have my senses as well as ever I had in 
my life. She then cried out, I am in hell ! I 
am in hell! I am in hell ! but said they, You are 
not in hell, you are out of your senses. She 
replied, I am not out of my senses, but I feel 
as much of the torturing torments of the damned 
as a mortal can feel in the body ! Her flesh 
rotted on her bones, and fell from one of her 
sides, so that her entrails might be seen. In 
this awful, terrible situation, she left this stage 
of action. Alas ! alas ! Wo to backsliders ! 
Surely if there be one place of greater punish- 
ment than another among the torments of the 
damned, that will be their portion. That God 
may alarm their guilty fears, before iniquity 
prove their eternal ruin, and their souls are 
centred among devils and damned ghosts, is 
the desire of my soul ! 

I had often urged on the people the necessity 
of building a meeting house, for the space of 
about four years, in lower Penn's-neck, during 
which period we had frequently held our meet- 
ings under the trees when the weather admitted. 
One day meeting with a carpenter, I agreed 



90 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

with him to build one. He came at the time 
appointed. I told him that we had got no 
timber for the building, and therefore I must go 
a begging. Accordingly we set out and went 
to a neighbour, and told him we were going to 
build a house for God, and asked him what he 
would give us toward it; he answered, two sticks 
of timber for sills. We then went to the widow 
M'C.'s, a professing Quaker, and she gave us 
two more, and sent her team to haul them to 
the place. We then went to Mr. Wm. Philpot, 
and he gave us sufficient for the house, though 
not even a professor with us : may the Lord 
reward him accordingly. I then went among 
our friends, and told them that they must come 
and help to get the timber ; they did so, and we 
began on Tuesday morning, and by Friday 
night we had all the timber at the place. — 
Brother Henry Ffirth, a steward of the circuit, 
and myself, were appointed managers to carry 
on the building. The Friday week following 
we raised our house, and in the afternoon 
preached on the foundation. In six weeks the 
carpenter had done his work, and I begged the 
money and paid him. This proved a great 
blessing to the neighbourhood, the greater part 
of which became Methodized, and many were 
moralized and Christianized, while the enemies 
of truth daily lost ground, and bigotry gradually 
declined. 

I had been for some time pressed in spirit to 
visit Pennsylvania, and in the love and fear of 
God, I set out with my life in my hand, it being 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 91 

at a time when the war was raging through our 
land. I crossed the Delaware at Newcastle, 
and that night, at early candle light, preached 
at R. F.'s, to a pack of ruffians, assembled in 
order to mob me, and one stood with a bottle 
of rum in his hand, swearing that he would 
throw it at my head ; but Mr. F. stood in the 
door and prevented him. If I ever preached 
the terrors of the law, I did it then — hoping 
some good seed might be sown in some hearts. 

I went next day to J. S.'s, and preached in 
the evening to a small, but an attentive congre- 
gation : here some souls appeared very happy. 
In time of my last prayer, one woman fell to the 
floor, and cried mightily to God for a clean 
heart, and after some time, lay as one dead ; 
but when she came to, she said God had given 
her a clean heart, and cried out, O that I could 
go to my Jesus ! that I could die ! — 
This was her language for near the space of 
three hours, without rising from the floor : I 
then told her she should not die, that God had 
something for her to do, and that she could not 
die when she would. She then said, Daddy 
Abbott ! how can I live ] repeating it over and 
over again. I went to bed and left her : she 
continued all night in prayer. 

I went to J. H.'s ; here I preached, chiefly to 
Baptists ; (there were two or three sheep here, 
but they were afraid to hold up their heads ;) 
as soon as I had concluded, I was attacked by 
several of them. I told them that if God had 
foreordained such a certain number for salva- 



92 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

tion, and preordained the remainder for damna- 
tion, it was in vain to pretend to persuade me 
to renounce my principles, for let me do what 
I would, I was certainly as well off as they were, 
and laid before them the absurdity of such anti- 
scriptural doctrines ; and so we parted. 

Next day I preached at brother H.'s to a 
large congregation : here God attended the 
word with power ; many poor sinners were cut 
to the heart, and some cried aloud for mercy. 
After preaching, a dear old woman came and 
said, This is the Gospel trump ! I heard it sound- 
ed by Mr. Whitefield twenty-five years ago ; it 
is the same ; I know it. I spent a precious 
evening with the old lady and her husband, con* 
versing on the things of God. In the morning 
I went to my appointment, and preached to 
about ten hard-hearted sinners. 

Next day I set out for my appointment, but 
being a stranger, I stopped at a house to inquire 
the way, and the man told me he was just going 
to that place, for there was to be a Methodist 
preacher there that day ; and our preacher, said 
he, is to be there to trap him in his discourse, 
and if you will wait a few minutes until a neigh- 
bour of mine comes, I will go with you. In a 
few minutes the man came, who, it seems, was 
a constable. So we set off, and they soon fell 
into conversation about the preacher, having no 
idea of my being the man, as I never wore black, 
or any kind of garb, that indicated my being a 
preacher, and so I rode unsuspected. The con= 
stable being a very profane man, he swore by 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 93 

all the gods he had, good and bad, that he would 
lose his right arm from his body if the Method- 
ist preacher did not go to jail that day. This 
was the theme of their discourse. My mind 
was greatly exercised on the occasion, and what 
added, as it were, double weight, I was a stran- 
ger in a strange place, where I knew no one. 
When we arrived at the place appointed, I saw 
about two hundred horses hitched. I also hitch- 
ed mine, and retired into the woods, where I 
prayed and covenanted with God on my knees, 
that if he stood by me in this emergency, I 
would be more for him, through grace, than ever 
I had been. I then arose and went to my horse, 
with a perfect resignation to the will of God, 
whether to death, or to jail. I took my saddle 
bags and went to the house ; the man took me 
into a private room, and desired I would preach 
in favour of the war, as I was in a Presbyterian 
settlement. I replied, I should preach as God 
should direct me. He appeared very uneasy 
and left me, and just before preaching, he came 
in again and renewed his request that I would 
preach up for war ; I replied as before, and then 
followed him out among the people, where he 
made proclamation as follows : — Gentlemen, 
this house is my own, and no gentleman shall 
be interrupted in my house in time of his dis- 
course, but after he has done you may do as you 
please. Thank God, said I softly, that I have 
liberty once more to warn sinners before I die. 
I then took my stand, and the house was so 
crowded that no one could sit down. Some 



94 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

hundreds were round about the door. I stood 
about two or three feet from the constable who 
had sworn so bitterly. When he saw that I 
was the man that he had so abused on the way, 
with so many threats and oaths, his countenance 
fell and he turned pale. I gave out a hymn, 
but no one offered to sing ; I sung four lines, 
and kneeled down and prayed. When I arose, 
I preached with great liberty. I felt such power 
from God rest upon me, that I was above the 
fear of either men or devils, not regarding 
whether death or jail should be my lot. Looking 
forward I saw a decent looking man trembling, 
and tears flowed in abundance, which I soon 
discovered was the case with many others. 
After preaching, I told them I expected they 
wanted ito know by what authority I had come 
into that country to preach. I then told them 
my conviction and conversion, the place of my 
nativity and place of residence ; also, my call to 
the ministry, and that seven years I had laboured 
in God's vineyard ; that I spent my own money 
and found and wore my own clothes, and that 
it was the love that I had for their precious 
souls, for whom Christ died, that had induced 
me to come among them at the risk of my life ; 
and then exhorted them to fly to Jesus, the ark 
of safety — that all things were ready— to seek, 
and they should find, to knock, and it should 
be opened unto them. By this time the people 
were generally melted into tears. I then con- 
cluded, and told them on that day two weeks 
they might expect preaching again. I mount- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



95 



ed my horse and set out with a friendly Quaker 
for a pilot. We had not rode above fifty yards, 
when I heard one hallooing after us. I looked 
back, and saw about fifty running after us. I 
then concluded that to jail I must go. We 
stopped, and when they came up, I crave your 
name, said one, — I told him, and so we parted. 
He was a justice of the peace, and was the per- 
son that I had taken "notice of in time of preach- 
ing, and observed him to be in great anxiety of 
mind. No one offered me any violence ; but 
they committed the next preacher, on that day 
two weeks, to the common jail. I went home 
with the kind Quaker, where I tarried all night. 
I found that himself and wife were under seri- 
ous impressions, and had had Methodist preach- 
ing at their house. They were very kind, and we 
spent the evening in conversing on the things of 
God. Here A. C, one of our young preachers, 
met me, intending to go round the circuit with me. 

We set out for the next preaching place, 
where we found a small congregation. I had 
great liberty in preaching, and we had a blessed 
time. One woman fell to the floor. Brother C. 
was greatly tried at hearing the cries of the people. 

Next day we went on to our next appoint- 
ment, in a school house, where we had a consi- 
derable congregation. I spoke with great liber- 
ty ; two fell under the power of God, and when 
they came to, they had found peace. After 
class meeting, we went home with one of our 
friends, and next day preached at his house. 
The Lord attended the word with power, seve- 



96 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

ral cried aloud for mercy. In class we had a 
melting time, and two fell to the floor. This 
tried brother C. again, and he asked me why I 
did not command them to be silent. I told him 
that these people were not Jersey people, and 
I had not learned them to fall down and cry 
out, as the people in your neighbourhood say 
I have learned the Jersey people. Here you 
may see for yourself, that it is the power of 
God. Why, said he, brother G. would forbid 
them. I told him, it mattered not to me what 
brother G. would do, I knew it was the power 
of God ; and therefore if every cry was as loud 
as ever he had heard a clap of thunder, I would 
not forbid them. 

Next day we went to our appointment, where 
the congregation was chiefly Germans, and a 
well-behaved people. Here the Lord wrought 
wonders, divers fell to the floor, and several 
found peace. We had a lively class, and a 
precious, melting time among the people of 
God. Many tarried to hear what I had seen 
through the land, of the wonderful works of 
God. In family prayer the power of God 
came upon me irt so wonderful a manner, that 
I lost both the power of my body and use of 
my speech, and cried out in a strange manner. 
The people also cried aloud ; here I thought I 
should frighten them, being in a strange coun- 
try, and among a people of a strange language, 
and was afraid it might prove a disadvantage to 
them ; but glory to God, it had a contrary 
effect, for they continued all night in prayer, 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 97 



Next morning I set out with about twenty 
others for my appointment, where we found a 
large congregation. When I came to my ap- 
plication, the power of the Lord came in such 
a manner, that the people fell all about the 
house, and their cries might be heard afar off. 
This alarmed the wicked, who sprung for the 
doors in such haste, that they fell one over 
another in heaps. The cry of mourners was 
so great, I thought to give out a hymn to drown 
the rioise, and desired one of our English 
friends to raise it, but as soon as he began to 
sing, the power of the Lord struck him, and he 
pitched under the table, and there lay like a 
dead man. I gave it out again, and asked 
another to raise it: as soon as he attempted,' 
he fell also. I then made the third attempt, 
and the power of God came upon me in such 
a manner, that I cried out, and was amazed. 
I then saw that I was fighting against God, 
and did not attempt to sing again. Mr. Bcehm, 
the owner of the house, and a preacher among 
the Germans, cried out, " I never saw God in 
this way before." I replied, This is a pentecost, 
father. 44 Yes, be sure," said he, clapping his 
hands, 44 a pentecost, be sure !" Prayer was all 
through the house, up stairs and down. I de- 
sired Mr. Bcehm to go to prayer ; he did so, 
and five or six of us did the same. A watch- 
night having been appointed for that evening, 
t and seeing no prospect of this meeting being 
over, although it had begun at eleven o'clock, 
I told Mr. Bcehm that we had best quietly with- 



98 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

draw from the meeting house. When we had 
got out of the door, a young man came out, 
and laid hold on the fence to support himself 
from falling, and there cried amain for God to 
have mercy on him. To be sure, said Mr. 
Bcehm, I never saw God in this way before. 
We exhorted him to look to God, and not to 
give up the struggle, and God would bless him 
before he left the place. I took the old gentle- 
man by the arm, and we went quietly to the 
house to get some dinner. About five o'clock 
a messenger came from the preaching house, 
requesting that I would go there immediately, 
for there was a person dying. We went with- 
out delay. I went up stairs, ^nd there lay se- 
veral about the floor, some crying for mercy, 
and others praising God. I then went into the 
preaching room, and there they lay about the 
floor in like manner. I then went to see the 
person said to be dying ; she laid gasping. — ■ 
I kneeled down to pray, but it was instantly 
given me that Gc-d had converted her soul, and 
therefore instead of praying for her deliverance, 
I gave God thanks that he had delivered her t 
and immediately she arose and praised God for 
what he had done for her soul. 

A young German came to me and clasped 
me in his arms, but could not speak English 
that I could understand. I then retired to the 
house, and consulted with Mr. Bcehm, who 
should preach in the evening; for I thought it 
would be best for one of the German preachers 
to speak first, there being several of them pre- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



99 



sent. The rumour having run through the 
neighbourhood of the power of God during the 
day, we had a very large congregation in the 
evening, to whom one of the German preach- 
ers preached. It appeared to me he spake 
with life and power. After him brother C. gave 
an exhortation ; but being confused, and an 
enemy to the work, his discourse was neither 
attended with life nor power. Then Mr. Bcehm 
gave an exhortation in the German language, 
and after him a young man gave a warm exhor- 
tation in the same tongue. Then I arose, and 
hardly knew how to speak, there had been so 
much said, and it was now growing late. How- 
ever, I spake, and the Lord laid to his helping 
hand, as he had done in the day time ; divers 
fled and made their escape out of the house, 
and then it appeared as if there were none left 
but what were earnestly engaged in prayer^ 
some praising Gcd, and others crying to him 
for mercy. I told Mr. Bcehm that I should not 
be fit for the duties of the ensuing day if I did 
not retire. So we went to the house about 
twelve o'clock, and took some refreshment and 
went to bed. In the morning I found that the 
people were still engaged, and had been so all 
night. I went to the house about sun an hour 
high, where I found about one dozen still en- 
gaged in prayer. I told them we ought to 
begin to prepare for the other meeting, so they 
broke up. 

We set out with about forty friends to the 
next appointment. The people being gathered, 



100 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

after singing and prayer, I began to preach, and 
God laid to his helping hand ; many cried aloud 
for mercy. One young man being powerfully 
wrought upon, retired up stairs, and there 
thumped about on the floor so that Mr. Boehm 
wa3 afraid that he would be injured in body. — 
To be sure, said he, I never saw God in this 
way before. I told him there was no danger, 
he was in the hands of a merciful God. In a 
few minutes after, in attempting to come down 
stairs, he fell from the top to the bottom, and 
hallooed aloud, The devil is in the chamber ! 
the devil is in the chamber ! which greatly 
darmed all the people. This brought a great 
damp over my spirits, for I thought, if I had 
raised the devil, I might as well go home again. 
However, after a little space I bid some of the 
deLu* people go up stairs, and see if the devil 
was there : several went up to see what the 
matter was, and there they found a man rolling, 
groaning, and crying to God for mercy ; they 
returned and told us how the matter stood. — 
When I dismissed the people, many wept 
around me, some said they had found peace, 
some were truly awakened, and others deeply 
convicted. 

Next day I went to my appointment, where 
I met a small congregation, to whom I ex- 
pounded the word — met a small class — had a 
good time with them. 

I went to my next appointment ; it was in a 
large store house, but the most dirty place I 
ever had been in. I had no stomach to eat, 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 101 

they were so monstrous filthy ; and when in 
Thed, I was ready to be devoured with fleas and 
bugs. Here there seemed but little good done. 

My next appointment was in a Presbyterian 
settlement, where I preached to a large congre- 
gation of hard-hearted and stiff-necked sinners, 
with but little or no prospect of any good being 
done. I left them without making any appoint- 
ment, and went that evening to the place of my 
next appointment, where I met with about 
twenty persons who had assembled together. 
I gave them a word of exhortation, and insisted 
on sanctification and holiness of heart. Here 
was a general weeping, and the word took such 
an effect on two young men, that they both fell 
to the floor, and one of them cried out in like 
manner as I had done when the Lord had 
sanctified my soul. I said, God is about to 
sanctify them, especially that one, whose cry 
represented my own, under the like operation : 
here we had a precious and powerful time in 
family worship. The young men both declared 
that God had sanctified them, and were as happy 
as they could live, praising God with loud ac- 
clamations of joy. 

Next day the people gathered, and we had a 
tolerable congregation. God attended the word 
with power, and some cried out. We had a 
favoured time both in preaching and in class. 

I went to my next appointment and preached 
in the evening. God attended the word with 
power, and some cried out. In meeting the 
class three or four professed sanctification. 



102 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

Next day, at my appointment, I met with my 
worthy friend and brother in Christ, James 
Sterling, of New- Jersey, whom I was glad to 
see, having wrote to him some days before and 
informed him how God was carrying on his 
work. In two days after he had received the 
account, he met me here. We had a crowded 
house, and the Lord laid to his helping hand v ; 
divers fell to the floor, and some cried aloud 
for mercy. After preaching, an old Presbyte- 
rian gentleman attacked me, and told me that 
it was all the work of the devil — that God was 
a God of order — and this was a perfect confu- 
sion. Well, said I, if this be the work of the 
devil, these people (many of whom then lay on 
the floor as dead men) when they come to, 
they will curse and swear, and rage like 
devils ; but if it be of God, their notes will be 
changed. Soon after one of them came to, 
and he began to praise God with a loud voice, 
and soon another, and so on — until divers of 
them bore testimony for Jesus. Hark ! hark ! 
said I, to my old opponent, brother, do' you hear 
them ? — this is not the language of hell, but the 
language of Canaan. I then appointed prayer 
meeting at a friend's house in the neighbour- 
hood. After the people had gathered I saw 
my old opponent among them. I gave out a 
hymn, and brother S. went to prayer, and after 
him myself. I had spoken but a few words 
before brother S. fell to the floor, and soon after 
him, every soul in the house, except myself 
and my old Presbyterian opponent, and two 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT* 103 



others. I arose and gave an exhortation, and 
the two men fell, one as if he had been shot, 
and then there was every soul down in the 
liouse, except myself and my old opponent. 
He began immediately to dispute the point, 
telling me it was rJH delusion, and the work of 
Satan. I told him to stand still, and see the 
salvation of the Lord. As they came tc, they 
all praised God, and not one soul but what 
professed either to have received justification 
or sanctification, eight of whom professed the 
atter. I then replied, Hark ! is this the lan- 
guage of hell 1 Here your eyes have seen the 
salvation of the Lord. The old man left us a 
little better satisfied than at first. 

Next morning brother S. went to prayer, and 
a woman fell to the floor, and hallooed aloud. 
Then I went to prayer, and brother S. and 
several others fell under the mighty power of 
God : but I was under some exercise of mind, 
as the house fronted on the public highway, 
lest any passing by, might hear the screeches 
and cries, and conclude that some one was 
committing murder ; but they all arose except 
the woman, and I desired that they would take 
her up and lay her on a bed, for we had spent 
so much time here, that time called us away to 
our next appointment, which was about seven 
miles distance. Here we met with my old 
Presbyterian opponent again : on seeing him I 
was sorry, for I concluded that we should have 
some disputing again. I fixed my eyes on him 
and cried mightily to God, that if one man fell 



104 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

that day, it might be him. As I was preaching, 
I heard several cry out, Water! water! — the 
man is fainting ! I looked round and saw it was 
my old opponent, trembling like Belshazzar : I 
told them to let him alone, and to look to them- 
selves, for that it was the power of God that 
had arrested him. They let him go, and down 
he fell on the floor, struggled awhile, and then 
lay as one dead. When I finished my dis- 
course, and dismissed the people, in order to 
meet the class, I desired some of our friends to 
carry him out, as he was in our way : they did 
so, and laid him on a bed in a back room. 
After class, I went in to see my old opponent ; 
he had just come to, and was sitting on the bed : 
now, thought I, is this the work of the devil, or 
not ? but said nothing to him, nor he to me. 

Next morning we went to our appointment, 
where we had a large congregation. Looking 
round, I saw my old Presbyterian friend again. 
This was nine miles distance from my former 
appointment. I felt great freedom in speaking : 
a woman began to shake in a powerful manner, 
and throe or four cried, Water ! water ! I told 
them it was the power of God that had fallen 
on her, so they let her go, and down she fell on 
the floor. I bid them to look to themselves, 
and went on with my discourse ; some wept, 
some sighed, and some groaned. When I dis- 
missed the people, not one offered to go. I then 
desired some one to speak to them, and brother 
C. arose and said, You stand amazed at the 
power of God, and well you may, and gave a 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 105 

smart exhortation. By this time I had gather- 
ed a little strength, and gave them an exhorta- 
tion ; they wept all through the house. I then 
said, For God's sake, if any can speak for God, 
say on, for I can speak no more. Who should 
arise but my old Presbyterian opponent, and 
began with informing them that he was not one 
of this sect, that he had been with me four days, 
and that he never had seen the power of God 
in this way before, and added, It is the power 
of God ! and gave a warm exhortation for about 
three quarters of an hour. I then dismissed the 
people, and told them I was so exhausted that I 
was unable to speak to them at present, but they 
still seemed loath to go away. Several Qua- 
kers asked me questions, but in a friendly manr 
ner, concerning the work they had heard of: I 
told them that their eyes had seen it. The wo- 
man before mentioned rose up and testified 
that God had sanctified her soul, and spoke to 
the people, testifying what God had done for 
her soul. I told them that they had seen how 
the power of God had wrought upon her. 
After this the people withdrew. I spent the 
evening to my satisfaction with the family, and 
a neighbour w ho tarried all night. 

Early next morning a young man came in, 
and after asking how we did, burst into tears : 
I asked him what was the matter? Why, said 
he, yesterday my brother was struck under your 
preaching, and we thought last night that he 
was dying, and sent for some of the neighbours. 
He now desires you to come, for he wishes to, 



106 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

see you. I told the young man to inform his 
brother, that after breakfast I purposed to come. 
When we went, we found seven or eight of the 
neighbours, who had assembled in order to see 
him die. He said, I was very much terrified 
yesterday under preaching, and after I got 
home, I was struck like a clap of thunder, and 
all my sins were set before me, and I fell like 
a log on the floor, and thought I was going to 
die, and expected to be in hell among devils 
and damned ghosts, which I saw round me 
ready to receive me ; and I cried aloud to God 
to have mercy on me, and our people thought I 
was crazy and was going to die ; accordingly 
they sent for our neighbours, as you see. I 
continued until after midnight. Well, but, said 
I, how do you feel now? do you feel that curse, 
that pain and anxiety in your breast that you 
did then ? No, said he. How do you feel ? 
Why, I feel at perfect peace, and my heart is 
as light as a feather. Why, said I, God has 
converted your soul. At that instant he start- 
ed on his feet, and threw off his blanket that he 
had wrapped about him, clapped his hands, 
and shouted, Glory to God ! for what he had 
done for him, and was perfectly well, both in 
body and mind. I turned to his mother, and 
said, Thank God that you have this day a son 
born ; and to the neighbours, You have seen 
with your bodily eyes the mighty power of God. 
His mother immediately cried out, Away with 
you, I want no more of you here ; — Whitefield 
was here like you* turning the world upside 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 107 

down ; I want no more of your being bom 
again. Mammy, said I, were you ever bom 
again ? Yes, said she. When ? said L When I 
replied she, why, when I was christened ; and 
beside, I took the sacrament when I was four- 
teen years^of age, and was made a member of 
Christ's mystical body. My dear mother, said 
I, you were born blind, and are so to the pre- 
sent moment ; and then quoted several texts to 
convince her of her ignorance in the things of 
God ; but she replied, Whitefield was here be- 
fore you, driving people mad ; away with you, 
I want no more of you here. Seeing there was 
no prospect of doing any more good, I depart- 
ed in possession of peace, leaving her raging 
like a devil. 

We went on to our appointment, where we 
had a small congregation of dead, stupid peo- 
ple. A few Quakers attended that had been 
out the day before. After meeting, one of 
them kindly asked me to go home with him : 
my next appointment being in his neighbour- 
hood, I went. Next morning when I inquired 
for him, I was informed that he had gone out, 
but would be in again. After some time he 
returned, and with him an old friend whom I 
took to be a preacher. I then began to think 
what discourse I should introduce, as I had 
reason to think he had been brought to try what 
foundation I stood upon : however, I began to 
speak of the depths of religion, and what they 
held, of justification and sanctifieation. I then 
told them my conviction and conversion ; how 



108 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

the Spirit of the Lord had wrought upon me, 
and four times in that circuit, in such a manner 
that iX had taken away the use of my limbs. 
At that instant it came on me so powerfully, 
that I fell. I endeavoured to quench the Spirit, 
for T expected, as they were strangers to the like 
operation that I should frighten them. In a 
few minutes I arose and went into the parlour, 
where the Spirit of God came on me as if one 
had pierced a sword through me. I cried out 
so loud that it alarmed the people at the barn, 
who came running into the house to see what 
was the matter ; but they hastened as fast out 
of the house as they came in. I cried out in 
an amazing manner, and when the Lord had in 
some measure withdrawn his Spirit, I looked 
round and found them all in tears. Those who 
had fled out of the house were at the windows. 
The old friend, who came with the man of the 
house, blessed God with tears in his eyes, that 
he had ever seen such a man — telling me, if I 
would go with him, I should preach in their 
school house, which was large and convenient. 
I told him I could not leave my circuit, but 
thanked him for his kind offer. But, said he, 
if thou wilt come to our house, thou mayest 
preach in our meeting house. I told him they 
would not let me. Yes, said he, thou art a 
plain man, and lookest like one of us ; I war- 
rant thee, they will let thee. But I told him I 
did not know that ever my lot would be cast in 
that quarter again and therefore could not pro- 
mise him. Well, said he, we will go and hear 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 109 



thee to-day : so the good woman hurried break- 
fast, and we all went to meeting, which was 
about one mile distant, where we found a large 
congregation, for the alarm had spread. I 
preached* and God attended the word with 
power. The power of God struck the woman 
of the house to the floor : she cried to the Lord 
for mercy ; but she was soon tempted that it 
was witchcraft, and that she was bewitched, 
and must now leave her husband and children, 
and follow me through the world. I returned 
with the friends, and tarried all night. We 
spent the evening satisfactorily in conversing 
on the things of God. In the morning I went 
to prayer among them ; and the man of the 
house went with me about four miles, and put 
me into a road that led to fhe meeting house, 
and here we parted in the unity of the Spirit. 

When I arrived at my appointment, I found 
a large congregation, and, among the rest, the 
woman who thought she was bewitched. Here 
God attended the word with power ; some fell, 
and others ran out of the door. One woman 
going out, met another coming in, and said to 
her, Do not go in, for you cannot stand it. Se- 
veral who had been long in society, professed 
to have found peace, and others sanctification ; 
we had the shout of a king in the camp — many 
said it was the greatest day they had ever seen 
in that place. I went home with one of our 
friends, and as he was going to put up my 
horse, the aforesaid woman came, and I asked 
her if she was going to tarry all night ? She 



110 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



said she was : I went and asked our friend who 
the woman was ] He said he did not know. 
After we had .put up our horses, we went over 
to one of our friends, where we found several 
of the neighbours, with whom we held a prayer 
meeting : we had a powerful time, and I was 
happy in my soul. I returned with my friend, 
and found his wife and the woman sitting up 
waiting for us. We went to family prayer, and 
the power of God so came upon the woman, 
that she fell to the floor, and cried out, Lord, 
have I called thy servant an enchanter ? Now 
I know it is of the Lord — and praised God as 
she lay on the floor. She arose and said, Now 
I can go home in peace ; and in the morning 
she departed. 

I went on to my%ppointment, and finding the 
people flocking together, I had the strangest 
feelings that I had ever experienced — some- 
thing like fainting fits. I concluded to go to 
bed, but seeing such a multitude of people to- 
gether, I thought I would try to exhort ; accord- 
ingly, I sung and prayed — the panic left me ; 
my soul was set at perfect liberty, and the 
Lord attended the word with power. I met the 
society and had a precious time among the dear 
people of God. Here I found several under 
awakening by the Spirit of the Lord. One wo- 
man gave me a strange relation of her conver- 
sion : she said, I went to the Roman chapel out 
of an idle curiosity ; opening a door, I saw the 
representation of Christ on the cross, and the 
blood running down the side. It struck me 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. Ill 

with such an awful sense of 4 my sins, and the 
satisfaction made through Christ for sin, that 
it threw me into sore distress for salvation : 
I went home, and in about two weeks, found 
peace, and joined society. She appeared to be 
a worthy member of society, from what I could 
learn. I spent the evening to my satisfaction 
in conversing on the things of God. 

Next day I set off to my appointment at 
Pott's Furnace, which for wickedness was next 
door to hell. Here they swore that they would 
shoot me. Mrs. Grace, hearing of their threats, 
and being herself unwell and not able to attend, 
sent a person to moderate the furnace men and 
colliers. Here brother Sterling met me again. 
I went into the house and preached with great 
liberty. Several of the colliers' faces were all 
in streaks where the tears ran down their 
cheeks. Brother S. gave an exhortation, and 
was very happy in delivering the truth. After 
meeting, we went to Mrs. Grace's, at the forge. 
The old lady took me by the hand and said, I 
never was so glad to see a man in the world, 
for I was afraid that some of the furnace men 
had killed you, for they swore bitterly that they 
would shoot, you. We tarried all night, and 
next day preached, and the Lord was very pre- 
cious — many wept and sighed. Mrs. Grace 
seemed desirous that we should appoint another 
meeting ; we did so, and she sent out and gave 
information, and brother C. preached, for I was 
so broken down that I was unable to say much ; 
and after him, brother S. gave an exhortation. 



Il2 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

After meeting we spent the evening very agree- 
ably with Mrs. Grace, her daughter, and grand- 
daughter ; her daughter was under conviction. 
Next morning in family prayer we had a pre- 
cious time : the Lord opened the windows of 
heaven and the Spirit of God came as in the 
days of pentecost; her daughter found peace, 
and one of the grand-daughters was under soul 
distress, while the old lady was on the wing for 
glory. Brother S., brother C, and myself, 
parted here. They went home, and I went to 
my appointment at D. F.'s ; and there we had 
a clever congregation, but the people were 
afraid to sit near me, having been informed that 
the people on the circuit fell like dead men. I 
preached, and we had a powerful time ; many 
were cut to the heart, some fell to the floor, 
and several cried aloud for mercy. 

Next day I preached at Cloud's meeting 
house, and at night held a prayer meeting at 
their house ; it seemed to be the only cry of 
Christians, for clean hearts. Several were lost 
in the ocean of love : we had a powerful; 
melting, shouting time. 

Next day I set off for home, and went to 
Wilmington and preached in an old store house 
on the wharf. Some people went through the 
town, and said there was an old sailor cursing 
and swearing at a terrible rate ; this brought 
the people together from every quarter, and the 
house and wharf was crowded, Some wept, 
some laughed, and others mocked ; some were 
awakened and came to me and inquired what. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 113 

they should do to be saved : I told them to look 
to Jesus and they should find rest to their souls. 

During this round on the circuit, twenty-four 
professed sanctification, and how many more 
were justified I know not ; but at one place 
(Mr. Bcehm's,) they informed me that there 
were twelve. 

I left Wilmington and went to Newcastle, 
crossed the Delaware, and so returned home, 
much broken down, and had so lost my voice, 
that the friends thought I would never be able 
to preach any more, unless it were to whisper 
a little ; but in about two months I had recovered 
my speech tolerably well, and longed to be in 
the Lord's vineyard again. 

My son David was now a preacher, and riding 
on Kent circuit, Maryland, and I received a 
letter from him requesting me to come and take 
his circuit while he came home, to see his 
mother, brothers, sisters, and friends. I got 
myself ready and crossed the Delaware again 
at Newcastle, and went to the head of Elk, to 
S. TVs and preached, and I charitably hope 
some good seed was sown ; though we had no 
class there. 

I went on to my next appointment at one 
Simmons', where I preach*** and had a power- 
ful time. Some were awakened, and inquired 
what they must do to be saved. I met the class 
and had a precious time among the little few. 

Next day, at my appointment, God attended 
the word with power ; many felt the effects 
thereof, and many wept, both white and black. 
8 



114 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

After dismissing the people we had a powerful 
time in class ; many fell to the floor, among 
whom was the man of the house ; several pro- 
fessed sactification, and some to be justified. 
Next day, being the Sabbath, I preached there 
again ; in the morning I met the black class 
in the barn, many fell to the floor like dead 
men, while others cried aloud for mercy ; but I 
had to leave them, as it was time to attend my 
appointment. When I came to the place, it 
was computed there were above one thousand 
people, and a clergyman among them. I 
preached in the woods, and the Lord preached 
from heaven in his Spirit's power, and the 
people fell on the right and on the left : I saw 
that many were in a flutter and ready to flee. 
I told them to stand still antl look to themselves, 
for God almighty was come into the camp. 
They kept their stations and did not flee. I 
continued to invite them to fly to Jesus the ark 
of safety. It was a great day to many souls. 
After I had concluded, a gentleman present 
said to me, I want to talk with you ; and when 
you pass through our town, I request you to 
call on me. Another gentleman present, point- 
ing at the first, said, This is our clergyman. I 
told him I would endeavour to call on him ; 
but at present must h^ten to my afternoon 
appointment, leaving the slain, and wounded on 
the field. When I came to the place, I found 
a large congregation assembled : here I preach- 
ed with great liberty, and many fell to the earth, 
both white and black ; some as dead men, while 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 115 

others were screaming and crying aloud to God 
for mercy. 

After preaching, the gentleman who had 
showed me their clergyman invited me home 
with him. When I came to his house, such 
attendance I had never met with ; for as soon 
as I came in, he ordered a young negro to pull 
off my boots and to put on me a pair of slippers. 
I told the lad to let me pull them off myself ; 
but the gentleman screamed out at him because 
he did not seize hold and pull them off : I was 
obliged to submit. He then opened a large 
library ; I soon found he was a well-read man, 
but had no knowledge of God. He told me, if 
what he had that day heard and seen was 
religion, he must confess he knew nothing of 
the matter, although he professed himself a 
good Churchman. He told me that their minis- 
ter was both a drunkard and a liar, and advised 
me not to go near him ; but I told him that I had 
promised, and must go, or they would call me 
a liar. Well, said he, I will go with you, that 
he may not misrepresent you when you are 
gone. After family duty I went to bed ; I 
observed by my head a pair of pistols, which I 
did not desire so near me, but I said nothing. 
Next morning we went to see the clergyman ; 
but we stopped at a friend's house of his, who 
said to me, Tarry here, and I will go and bring 
the clergyman. He went, but did not find him 
at home. We then went on and crossed the 
river, where I preached to a small congregation. 
Here the gentleman and I parted. We had a 



116 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

happy time in class : here I saw what I had 
never met with before, twenty women in class, 
and but one man, and he an African. 

I went next day to one Howard's, and preach- 
ed to a large, attentive congregation : had an 
alarming time ; they heard as for eternity ; the 
word reached many hearts. I met class, and 
had a precious time in pressing holiness of heart 
on them. As I was speaking, one woman 
trembled and fell to the floor, and after some 
time she lay still, and when she came to, she 
said that God had sanctified her soul ; — then 
told her dream that she had the night before : 
I dreamed, said she, that I saw a plain old man, 
with strings in his shoes, and I saw every feature 
in his face, and he reached out and gave me a 
clean piece of paper ; and I believe it repre- 
sented a clean heart ; and now I know that 
God has sanctified me. 

Next day I proceeded to my appointment at 
brother H.'s ; had a crowded house, and preach- 
ed from these words : " Verily, verily, I say 
unto thee, except a man be born again, he can- 
■ not see the kingdom of God." The Lord 
attended the word with great power ; the people 
fell, screamed, screeched, and cried aloud for 
mercy. Here I was as happy as I could live 
in the body ; many were awakened, and one 
great sinner stood amazed and struck with 
wonder at what his eyes saw. After preaching, 
met the class, and had a most powerful time. 
Some lost the power of their bodies, and we 
had a shout in the Lord's camp. 



LIFE OP BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 117 

Next day I went to my appointment ; the 
rumour of the work of the Lord caused many 
to attend the word. Looking round, I saw the 
big man again, he being of an uncommon size. 
In my application, the Lord opened the windows 
of heaven, and rained down righteousness on 
the people. 1 proceeded to meet the class, but 
the power of God came in such a manner that 
it prevented me. We had a shout in Israel's 
camp ; some shouted praises to God, others 
cried aloud to him for mercy ; many lay on the 
floor as dead men, others all bathed in tears : 
" And the people shouted with a loud shout, 
and the noise was heard afar off." Thus our 
meeting continued for the space of three hours 
before it broke up, and I found the big man oni 
his knees at prayer. 

Next day I preached to a small congregation: 
of hard-hearted, stiff-necked, uncircumcised sin- 
ners, and felt but little freedom among them. 
After preaching, met the little class ; spoke 
freely to them, and impressed holiness on them 
with all my powers, but found them rather dead 
and stupid. 

Next morning I went to the place of my 
appointment, where I found many hundreds 
collected on the occasion of a funeral there that 
day. The minister who preached the funeral 
sermon being of the Church form, went through 
the ceremonies thereof, and then preached a 
short, easy, smooth, soft sermon, which amount- 
ed to almost nothing. By this time a gust was 
rising, and the firmament was covered with 



118 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT* 

blackness ; two clouds appeared to come from 
different quarters, and to meet over the house, 
winch caused the people to crowd into the house, 
up stairs and down, to screen themselves from 
the storm : when the minister had done, he 
asked me if I would say something to the people. 
I arose, and with some difficulty got on one of 
the benches, the house was so greatly crowded ; 
and almost as soon as I began, the Lord out of 
heaven began also. The tremendous claps of 
thunder exceeded any thing I ever had heard, 
and the streams of lightning flashed through 
the house in a most awful manner ! It shook 
the very foundation of the house, the windows 
jarred with the violence thereof. I lost no 
time, but set before them the awful coming 
of Christ, in all his splendour, with all the 
armies of heaven to judge the world and to take 
vengeance on the ungodly ! It may be, cried I, 
that he will descend in the next clap of thunder ! 
The people screamed, screeched, and fell all 
through the house. The lightning, thunder, and 
rain continued for about the space of one hour, 
in the most awful manner ever known in that 
country, during which time I continued to set 
before the people the coming of Christ to judge 
the world, warning and inviting sinners to flee 
to Christ. One old sinner made an attempt to 
go, but had not gone far before he fell. Some 
went to him and put him in a carriage, and took 
him home, where, as I was informed, he remain- 
ed three days and three nights, and neither eat 
nor drank. When the storm abated we broke 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABEOTT. 119 

up the meeting ; many were that day convinced, 
and many converted.* 

I went on to my next appointment, preached 
to the people with some feeling, but saw little 
prospect of any good being done. 

I went on to quarterly meeting, which was 
held in brother Simmons' barn, where I met 
brother Sterling, from New- Jersey, whom I 
was glad to see. We had a large congrega- 
tion ; one of our preachers preached, several 
spoke by exhortation, and we had a good time 
on Saturday. On Sabbath morning we had 
love-feast ; the people spoke freely, and we had 
a precious time. After love-feast I preached, 
and God attended the word with power ; many 
cried aloud, and some fell to the floor. After 
I concluded, brother Ivy gave an exhortation, 
and spoke very powerfully ; many wept under 
his exhortation : and after him several others 
gave exhortations. A number were converted, 
and some were sanctified, but how many I never 
knew. Here my kind friend, Mr. K., invited 
me to his house, and told me to bring my friends 
with me : accordingly I took brother Sterling 
and went home with him. Here, I thank God, 
I was at no loss ; brother S. returned the com- 
pliment with which he congratulated us, on our 
arrival, as became the Christian and gentleman. 

* Fourteen years after, when I rode that circuit, I 
conversed with twelve living witnesses, who told me 
that they were all converted at that storm, and also 
of divers others, who had gone from time to eternity, 
during my absence of fourteen years, and of several 
who had moved out of the neighbourhood. 



120 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



We soon fell into conversation on the things of 
God. At time of family worship, abundance 
of black people assembled in the kitchen, and 
the door was set open that they might hear 
without coming into the parlour. I gave out a 
hymn, brother Sterling went to prayer, and after 
him myself. The power of the Lord came down 
in a wonderful manner among the black people ; 
some cried aloud, and others fell to the floor, 
some praising God and some crying for mercy : 
after we had concluded, brother S. went among 
them, where he continued upward of one hour, 
exhorting them to fly to Jesus, the ark of safety. 

Next day we set our faces homeward, and 
arrived at Newcastle, and preached in the even- 
ing at brother F.'s, to a hard-hearted, disobe- 
dient people ; but I endeavoured to declare to 
them the terrors of the law, and promises of the 
Gospel. 

Next day I crossed the river and returned 
home, where I found my family well, for which, 
and every other mercy, I desire to be ever truly 
thankful to the great Author of all good, who 
had brought me again in safety to my habitation 
in peace, and had attended his unworthy dust, 
when absent in his service, with his Spirit's 
power, for which my soul adores the God and 
Rock of my salvation. 

Some time after this, my son David was riding 
in the Delaware state, on the Dover circuit, and 
I crossed the Delaware river in order to meet 
him at J. S.'s, but being a day too late, he had 
departed very sorrowful, concluding I was sick, 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 121 

as he had written, requesting me to meet him 
there ; however, I pushed after him, and over* 
took him at Duck creek cross roads, preaching 
to a large congregation in an orchard ; but 
coming behind him, he saw nothing of me until 
he concluded ; and as soon as he stepped off 
the stand, I stepped on, and gave an exhorta- 
tion, and instantly God attended the truth with 
power, the people cried aloud, and we had a 
shout in the camp ; but as it was likely to inter- 
fere with our next appointment, I dismissed the 
people, and went to Blackstone's meeting house, 
where the people expected me, and a large mul- 
titude was assembled. I preached with life and 
power, and the Lord attended the word ; many 
wept, and I trust some good was done. I went 
home with friend Blackstone. In the evening 
met class and gave them an exhortation, and 
endeavoured to show the nature and necessity 
of perfection, or holiness of heart, and pressed 
it home upon them with all the ability that God 
gave me. While speaking to the society, one 
cried out, then another, and the cry became 
general, and there was such a weeping, crying, 
and shouting, that I could not speak to any 
more. One young woman cried out that she 
was not an angel, but she knew that God had 
given her a clean heart, and had sanctified her 
soul. A young man ran to me and clasped me 
about the neck, and said, I am a Baptist, but I 
know the Lord is here, I feel his Spirit. This 
continued for some time, and I said, There is 
no occasion for me to say any thing more, for 



122 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

the Master of assemblies has met you himself, 
and has spoken to every heart. Here I was as 
happy myself as I knew how to continue in the 
body. 

Next day my son returned to see his friends, 
and I went on the circuit in his room. At the next 
appointment I preached, and the Lord manifested 
his power and presence among us. One sinner 
fell to the floor and cried mightily to God to 
have mercy on his soul. I went on, and when 
I came to the application, I exhorted them to fly 
to Christ : here, said I, you see the power of 
God, and Christ is exalted on his throne, — why 
will you die and sell your souls to the devil ? I 
desired the Christians to withdraw out of the 
room, and let sinners come and see for them- 
selves ; they did so, and when they came in, I 
said, Here you see the power of God on this 
young man, (he was then almost exhausted, 
laying on the floor,) if this be of hell, as seme 
of you may think it is, when he comes to, he 
will curse and swear ; but if it be of God he 
will praise him. When he revived again, he 
began to praise God for what he had done for 
his soul, and told them that God had forgiven 
his sins, and exhorted them to seek the Lord. 
Hark ! said I, this is not the language of hell, 
but of Canaan ; a language that has gone through 
your land and you do not understand it. 

Next day I went to my appointment, where 
I was informed the children of the devil were 
greatly offended, and intended that day to kill 
me ; here I had a crowded congregation. I 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 123 

preached, and God attended the word with 
power ; several made an attempt to go out, but 
the crowd was so great about the door, they 
were obliged to stay. They began quickly to 
fall to the floor, and to cry aloud, so that we 
soon had a shout in the camp. The Lord was 
very powerful : one young man was struck to 
the floor, and many said that he was dead ; but 
I told them that he was not dead. 1^ told them 
to take him up and lay him on a bed, where he 
lay about three hours, and many continued to 
say he was dead. I now began to be greatly 
exercised, it being the first time I ever had felt 
any fears, lest any one should expire under the 
mighty power of God. He lay in so dead a 
state, and continued so long, that his flesh grew 
cold, and his blood was stagnated to his elbows ; 
his ringers were spread, and about half shut, 
and in so stiff a condition that they could not 
be straightened. Yery great and various were 
my exercises during this period. I concluded 
to go home, and not proceed one step farther, for 
killing people would not answer ; but at last he 
came to ; and as soon as he could speak, he 
began to praise God for what he had done for 
his soul. This is the Lord's doing, and it is 
marvellous in our eyes. 

Next day I went to my other appointment, 
and preached in a barn to a large congregation, 
and spoke with freedom : many wept. Here I 
met two young Nicholites, who came and spoke 
freely^ to me concerning spiritual things. — 
I believe they were both Christians. One of 



124 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



them followed me three days, and departed in 
great love and tenderness. 

My next appointment was in a local preach- 
er's house ; he having heard what was going on, 
began to tell me he looked upon it all as con- 
fusion, for that God was a God of order. I 
told him that he might rest assured that it was 
the power of God. However, the people 
gathered, and I preached. The power of God 
seized a woman sitting before me, suckling her 
child : she began to tremble, and fell back on 
the floor. After she came to, she sprang up, 
clapping her hands, and crying aloud, Tell the 
sinners it is the work of the Lord ! This alarm- 
ed the town, and brought many people together, 
and the Spirit of the eternal God laid hold on 
several of them : many wept. I had not spo- 
ken long before the slain and wounded lay all 
through the house, and among the rest, the 
local preacher ; some crying for mercy, and 
others praising God for what he had done for 
their souls, testifying that he had justified them, 
and set their souls at liberty ; and one professed 
sanctification. I desired the class to stop, and 
I spoke first to the local preacher. What do 
you think of it now, my brother — is it the work 
of God or not ? ! said he, I never thought 
that God would pour out his Spirit in such a 
manner, for I could not move hand or foot any 
more than if I had been dead ; but I am as 
happy as I can live. We had a precious time 
among God's people. Here I found many pre- 
cious souls. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 125 

Next day I went to brother Cole's, preached, 
and had a precious time. Here I found a lively 
class. A predestinarian woman stayed in class : 
when I spoke to her, she began to dispute about 
principles : I endeavoured to show her that 
Christ had died for all ; and not for a few only, 
according to her notion. She got convinced, 
and joined society ; I spent the evening in con- 
versing on the things of God. 

Next morning, being the Lord's day, I went 
to the preaching house, where I found many 
hundreds gathered. It was supposed the house, 
although large, did not hold half the people. I 
preached with great freedom, and was not at a 
loss for matter. Many wept, but I cannot say 
much good was done. I spent the evening at 
brother Cole's in conversing on the things of 
God, and what he was doing through the land. 

I went from hence to brother E.'s, and 
preached in a barn to a large congregation ; 
here the work of the Lord broke out with pow- 
er, many cried aloud for mercy, others were 
rejoicing in God their Saviour. Here I met 
with C. R., a pious young woman, who pro- 
fessed sanctification, and her life corresponded 
therewith. 

At my next appointment I preached to a 
large congregation in the woods, and was in- 
formed that I was to be attacked by the clerk 
of the Church, who had attacked some of our 
preachers. The power of God attended the 
word, and the clerk sat with his spectacles 
wrong side up, twisting and wringing his mouth, 



126 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

and pulling and tugging those near him until 
they grew ashamed of him, and moved. I fixed 
my eyes on him, seeing his behaviour, and 
cried as loud as I was able, The devil is come 
into the camp ! The devil is come into the 
camp ! Help, men of Israel ! Every man and 
woman to their sword ! Cry mightily to God, 
that the power of hell may be shaken, and suffer 
loss ! In an instant we had the shout of a king 
in the camp ; the clerk took off his spectacles, 
hung his head, and did not raise it again until 
I had done. When service was over, many 
came itnd asked me if I did not see the devil 
bodily : I told them no ; I only saw one of his 
agents acting for him. Several broken-hearted 
sinners flocked around me ; I requested them 
to go to the house where I was to meet class. 
We had the house so full, I concluded only to 
sing and pray, and give an exhortation. I en- 
forced the necessity of sanctification, and told 
them what God was doing on the circuit. — 
Brother E. was soon on the floor, and quickly 
another fell, and soon there were four down. 
In the mean time I did not forget sinners, and 
they began to fall : six or seven were soon 
down. Here C. R., the pious young woman 
before mentioned, helped me in the work of the 
Lord : the meeting lasted nearly or quite two 
hours. 

Next day I met brother Asbury at brother 
T. White's, on my way to quarterly meeting, 
and about twenty other preachers. Sister 
White, I believe, was an Israelite indeed, in 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 127 

whom there was no guile. Brother Asbury 
asked me, What news from the sea coast ? — 
Why, said one of the preachers, he can tell you 
nothing. Yes, yes, said brother Asbury, he 
can tell us something. I then related how God 
was carrying on his work, and they were 
amazed. Brother Asbury called me up stairs, 
and told me I must preach that evening. I told 
him I could not, as they were all preachers ; — 
well, said he, you must exhort after me. I 
said, perhaps I may. We went down, and he 
preached ; and after he had done, I arose, and 
as they were mostly preachers, I concluded 
only to tell my experience, and so related my 
conviction and conversion, and exhorted them 
all to holiness of heart, and so concluded. In 
the morning, brother A. stroked down my head, 
and said, Brother Abbott, the black coats scar- 
ed you last night ; to which I replied, What 
could I say, they were nearly all preachers? 
We all set out for quarterly meeting : sister 
White came to me, as I was on horseback, 
took me by the hand, exhorted me for some 
time. I felt very happy under her wholesome 
admonitions. Toward evening, not far from 
the place, we stopped at a door, and brother A. 
said to the man of the house, You must send 
out and gather your neighbours ; and turning 
to me he said, You must preach here to-night. 
At candle light we had a large congregation. 
I preached, some wept, some sighed, and others 
groaned, bu4 I cannot say much good was done ; 
however, I hope it was not altogether labour lost. 



128 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

Next morning we went to quarterly meeting 
at Barret's chapel. Here we had a large con- 
gregation, to whom brother Asbury preached, 
and afterward he called on me to give an ex- 
hortation. Some of the preachers wondered 
where he had gathered up that old fellow. I 
sung, prayed, and began to exhort, and God 
laid to his helping hand, and came down in his 
Spirit's power as in ancient days ; some fell to 
the floor, others ran out of the house, many 
cried aloud for mercy, and others were shout- 
ing praises to the God of hosts, with hearts full 
of love Divine. Seeing the people sit on the 
joists up stairs, I was afraid they would fall 
through, this caused me to withhold ; I quitted 
the pulpit, and there was an exhortation or two 
given, and the meeting broke up. After meet- 
ing brother Asbury said, Brother Abbott, you 
must go home with such a gentleman, and then 
went to the gentleman, and brought him to me, 
and I went with him. After dinner, I convers- 
ed with divers Christian friends of the dealings 
of God with his people, and what he was doing 
through our land. In the evening I asked if 
any of them could sing, 

Still out of the deepest abyss 
Of trouble, I mournfully cry ; 
I pine to recover ray peace, 
To see my Redeemer and die. 

A gentleman from Dorchester answered, he 
could, and they sung it with such melodious 
voices, and with the spirit, that it was attended 
with great power. The gentleman's lady and 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



129 



two others fell to the floor. When done sing- 
ing, we kneeled down to pray, and several fell ; 
the man of the house, who had been a backsli* 
der, got restored ; many prayers were sent up 
to God, both by men and women. Our meet- 
ing continued three hours. 

Next morning our love-feast began at sun- 
rise ; I just made out to get there as the doors 
were shut. The crowd was so great that we 
could not go round with the bread and water as 
usual. It was supposed that as many were 
outside as in the house. After singing and 
prayer, brother Asbury opened the love-feast, 
and bade the people to speak. Many of them 
spoke very powerfully ; several exhortations 
were given in intervals by the preachers ; we 
had a precious time. The house being opened, 
one of the preachers preached, and several 
spoke by way of exhortation, which was at- 
tended with power, and we had a peaceable 
waiting before the Lord. After this meeting 
I returned home again, where I arrived in 
safety and peace. Thanks be to God for the 
same. 

My wife had been in a poor state of health 
for about seven years. About six weeks before 
her death, she told me that God would remove 
one of us, and I believe, said she, that you 
ought to be in his vineyard, and if I am the 
cross, I shall be removed from you. About the 
same time she besought God to deliver her 
from her affliction of body, that she had so long 
laboured under ; and m one moment she was 
9 



130 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

restored to as perfect health as ever she had 
enjoyed in all her life, and continued so until 
the day of her death, which was about six weeks 
after. The day on which she died, she had 
been to market, and returned home in the eve- 
ning. When I came into the house , we had 
some conversation, and soon after she said, I 
feel very strange ; send for brother Bilderback, 
to bleed me, for I believe I am going to have a 
fit of the colic. He came, and made several 
attempts to let blood, but found it so stagnated, 
that it would not run. My daughter Hannah 
stepped to her, and said, Mamma, you are 
dying ! She immediately besought God, in 
prayer, to receive her soul, when it should take 
its flight from time to eternity. After she had 
done, I kneeled down and prayed to God that 
she might have an easy passage. She con- 
tinued clapping her hands all the time I was at 
prayer, although she had the rattles of death on 
her. I asked her if she saw heaven sweetly 
opened before her. She was speechless, but 
made three nods with her head, and her soul 
took its flight without either sigh, groan, or 
throb. I felt a perfect resignation to the will 
of God, so that I could truly say the Lord's 
prayer, Thy will he done. Neither did I feel a 
spirit of mourning, as the world feels, for I was 
sensible my loss was her eternal gain, which 
was to me a consolation/ The manner of her 
life, from the time she became a Christian, was 
exemplary : she set apart three times a day for 
private prayer, and I never knew her to omit it ; 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 131 



and when I was absent she always kept up 
family prayer. She departed this life on the 
14th of July, 1788. 

" Lord, she was thine, and not my own, 
Thou hast not done me wrong : 
I thank thee for the precious loan, 
Afforded me so long." Newton. 



EXPERIENCE AND GOSPEL LABOURS 

OF THE 

, REV. BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



PART SECOND. 

Containing his travels s,nd Gospel labours after he 
entered the Methodist itinerant connection, in April, 
1789, until about May, 1795. 

In the fore part of the year 1789, I found it 
my duty to labour in the Lord's vineyard as a 
travelling preacher, having heretofore consider- 
ed myself only as a local preacher. I therefore 
arranged and settled my temporal affairs, and in 
April, 1789, went to the conference held at 
Trenton, for the district of New- Jersey, where 
I was received on trial as an itinerant preacher, 
agreeably to the discipline of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and was appointed to Dutch- 
ess circuit, state of New-York. Accordingly 
I took my station. I found the circuit was new, 
and but few converted souls on it. I rode 
round and strove to regulate the classes ; and 
my mind was much drawn out to preach up 
sanctification to the people ; but I consulted 
our presiding elder, brother Garrettson, on the 
occasion, and he told me it was not worth while 
to preach sanctification to unjustified souls. 
But, at a certain place, finding six believers in 
one class, I thought proper that day to preach 
sanctirrcatiou. After I had done, a man and a 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN AEEOTT. 133 

woman told me if there was such a blessing to 
be attained, they were determined to seek it. 
I told them God would as surely sanctify them 
as that they had souls, if they would seek and 
contend for the blessing. 

One morning, the woman went six times 
behind a rock, and prayed, still without receiv- 
ing the blessing ; she went again the seventh 
time, and the Spirit of the Lord came so upon 
her, that she fell to the ground, and the Lord 
took away the heart of stone and gave her a 
heart of flesh, and -sprinkled her as with clean 
water, and gave her an evidence that he had 
sanctified her soul. She then went to one of 
the near neighbours, and the same power came 
upon her there, that had done behind the rock, 
and they a)l received a blessing, and had a shout 
among them. 

The man likewise, being engaged for sane- 
tification, retired one evening to a little mount 
before his door, where he was in great agony, 
and thought he saw the devil stand just before 
him, on the mount ; he arose from his knees to 
go to the house, but on his way determined 
that he would not be beat off by the devil, and 
accordingly returned again to the mount, where 
he wrestled with God in prayer, until the devil 
gave way ; he then fell before God, but how 
long he laid he could not tell, but when he came 
to, he knew that God had sanctified his soul. 

When I went to my next appointment and 
preached, I saw some little signs of good, but 
not much. I met the class, and found but 



134 LIFE OP BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

few, if any, that knew the pardoning love of 
God. 

Next day I went to a place called Dover, 
and preached in the church. Here I saw but 
little effects ; I went home with brother W. and 
met class. Here were some precious souls 
who had a peaceable waiting before God. 

Next day I went to Sherron, and preached 
to so large a congregation, that I had to stand 
out of the door. The people were Presbyte- 
rians, and knew but little about Methodism. 
Here God attended the word with power and 
authority, so that many wept, and some cried 
aloud. Soon as I had concluded, up rose an 
old man and began to exhort, with tears in his 
eyes, desiring the people to believe, adding, " It 
is the true Gospel that you have heard this day." 
After him, arose another, weeping, and exhort- 
ing the people to believe, for these were the 
truths of God. I then dismissed the people 
and returned to the house, and about twenty 
followed me, inquiring what they must do to be 
saved. I exhorted them to fly to Jesus, the 
ark of true safety. 

Next day I went to my appointment and 
preached, and saw but little fruit ; a few wept. 
The people here were chiefly Presbyterians, 
Baptists, and Congregationalists. I met the 
class, and found the woman of the house an 
old Israelite. 

Next day I preached to a small congrega- 
tion ; the Lord attended the word with power, 
and seven joined society. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 135 

Next day I went to my appointment, where 
I found a Congregational minister, and the 
greatest part of his hearers. I preached with 
great liberty and care. After dismissing the 
people, a dispute quickly arose, and a number, 
both men and women, contended warmly with 
me, without the least regard to order. I was 
obliged to request them to speak one at a 
time. Our dispute continued a long time. 

Next day I went on to my appointment and 
preached ; here some wept. I met the little 
class, and found a few that had obtained peace. 
After I had dismissed the class, I was attacked 
by a Baptist, who said, " If any man says he 
hath no sin he is a liar, and the truth is not in 
him." I replied, My brother, do you live in 
sin ? Yes, said he, every day. Then, said I, 
I will prove you, by the word of God, to be a 
child of the devil, and an heir of damnation : 
for St. John tells us, 44 He that committeth sin 
is of the devil ; for this purpose, the Son of God 
was manifested that he might destroy the works 
of the devil ; whosoever is born of God doth 
not commit sin," 1 John iii, 8, 9. Now, St. 
John or you are mistaken ; and I desire to 
know where you keep this devil, that sins in 
you, whether in your heart, flesh, or head, or 
where he is ; for Christ and Belial can have no 
concord together. This body, or this flesh, 
cannot commit sin without the assent of the will, 
which is the spring of action, and one of the 
noblest faculties of the soul. Try the experi- 
ment : put your hand to your head, or rise out 



136 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT 51 . 



of your chair without the assent of your will. 
He, being confounded, and several beginning 
to laugh, arose, and appeared very angry, and 
so withdrew. I went to my next appointment, 
where I preached ; some wept, and some sigh- 
ed. I met the class, and had a melting time. 

At my next appointment, I preached, and the 
Lord attended the word with power. Some 
were cut to the heart, and cried aloud to God 
for mercy, and 'we had the shout of a king in 
the camp. I met the class, and two young men 
joined society, who had been, a few days before, 
trying which could swear the most profane oath. 
Now they both professed faith in Christ ; upon 
which, the father of one of them sent him to 
their minister to learn their articles of faith, &c, 
&c. He stayed four weeks, and by that time 
lost all his desires for salvation, and could curse 
and swear as fast as ever, for, said he, " If I 
am to be saved, I shall be saved, and if I am 
to be damned, it matters not whether I swear 
or pray." I then turned him out of class. 

At my next appointment, the people were 
chiefly Dutch. I preached to them, and God 
attended the word with power ; many wept, and 
God was with us of a truth : two young men 
were cut to the heart, and cried aloud for mercy. 
When the meeting was over, I asked them to 
stay to class : they did so, and declared that God 
had broken into their souls ; and for Christ's 
sake had filled them with such joy and peace as 
they never had felt before. And likewise an el- 
derly woman and her two daughters found peace. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT* 137 

I went on to ray next appointment, and God 
attended the word with power : many wept, and 
one Baptist woman, that had fallen from grace, 
was restored to the love of God again : I met 
the class, and invited her in ; after speaking to 
the members, I spoke to her : now, said I, God 
has showed you the absurdity of your principles : 
she replied, I renounce them all, and if you are 
willing to receive me, I wish to join your so- 
ciety. I then asked the class if they were 
willing to receive her ; they said they were, so 
i admitted her into society. 

I preached in Baston Row's barn, from these 
words, " JNot every one that saith unto me, 
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of 
heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my Father 
which is in heaven," Matt, vii, 21. Here the 
Lord manifested his power among us. J. R. 
being awakened, desired preaching might be 
at his house : accordingly I went there, and 
preached to a large congregation, and God at- 
tended the word with power ; one young woman 
fell to the floor, and when she arose, she bore 
a living testimony that God, for Christ's sake, 
had forgiven her sins, and said there was not 
a greater sinner in the barn than she had been. 
Many wept, and, among the rest, an old Quaker 
woman and her daughter, who went home all 
bathed in tears. Some days after she told her 
sister what a strange old man she hal seen and 
heard, and that she never had such feelings be- 
fore in all her life ; for she had cried all next 
day, and could not help it, But, said she, I 



138 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

never will go to hear him any more. John 
Row, his wife, and daughter, his brother and 
his wife, and his three negroes, all found the 
Lord. This day my soul was on the wing, and 
I formed a class, who were mostly Germans. 

Next day, on my way to my appointment, I 
met with brother Garrettson, and went to Mr. 
Sands' and dined ; after I had been some time 
in the house, discoursing with the people, the 
Spirit of God came upon me, and I asked them 
if I might go to prayer, which was granted, and 
while I was at prayer, their eldest daughter cried 
out, and an awfulness rested on her father and 
mother. After prayer, I was about to set off, 
but Mr. Sands said, stop a while and I will go 
with you ; I did so, and he went. I preached ; 
and the Lord manifested his presence among 
us ; one German woman cried aloud, and more 
were melted into tears. Their minister, who 
was a Presbyterian, was there, and looked very 
wild, but said nothing. After I had got to Mr. 
Sands', the woman before mentioned sent for 
me ; Mr. Sands went with me, and when we got 
there, we found the minister and several others, 
who had all arrived before us. I asked the 
woman for what intent she had sent for me ; 
she answered, that she had been powerfully 
wrought upon under preaching, and that she 
was a sinner and an undone creature, without 
Christ. I endeavoured to apply the promises, 
and told her that she had no w 7 here to fly for 
safety, only to Christ ; and I asked the minister, 
if it were not so ; he replied it was : I then went 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 139 

on to urge obedience, and the means of grace ; 
and again asked him, if it were not so : he re- 
plied, Yes ; but there is no living here without 
sin. I did not like to fight, but being challenged, 
I could not avoid it. I then asked him if he 
was a minister of Christ : he replied, he was. 
What, said I, a minister, and live in sin ! Yes, 
said he. I then quoted 1 John iii, 8, 9, and 
many other passages, and asked him, what he 
did with his sins ; he replied, that he set them 
all down to Christ's account. I then quoted a 
variety of other texts ; but he replied, I cannot 
English them, and therefore cannot dispute with 
you. Then, said I, let us pray. I first besought 
God to deliver the woman, and then the family 
and minister. I bade them farewell, and went 
to my friend Sands', who desired me to make his 
house my home, while I stayed in that quarter. 
I spent the evening in conversing on the things 
of God, and what I had seen of his power : they 
were in tears all the while, the father, mother^ 
and daughter. Next morning, he said, we must 
have preaching here : I said, very well, give it 
out ; he did so, and I preached to a large con- 
gregation, and the power of the Lord was .pre- 
sent, and some of the great ones of the earth, 
who were there, wept sore ; and I spoke to 
them freely, one by one, as if they were in class. 
The two daughters and themselves found peace, 
and their son-in-law was powerfully wrought 
upon. I spent many an hour with these dear 
people of God. One evening, as I was reading 
a chapter in the Bible, the power of the Lord 



140 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

came down on us, so that we all cried out, and I 
said, let us pray. We kneeled down and prayed, 
and it was a precious time. In the morning C. 
S. said he never was so happy in all his life. 

Next day I went on to my appointment, 
where we had a large congregation : I preached 
with life and power, and God attended the word 
with the energy of his Spirit. A Quaker girl 
was powerfully wrought upon, so that every 
joint in her shook, and she would have fallen to 
the floor, but four or five took and carried her 
out of the door : when she had recovered a 
little she went to a neighbour's house and told 
him that she had seen the dreadfulest old man 
that she ever saw in all her life, and that he 
almost scared her to death, for his eyes looked 
like two balls of fire, and that she expected every 
minute he would jump at her. But, said the 
neighbour, I know the old man, and he would 
not hurt nor touch you. I went on, and the 
power of the Lord continued among us in such 
a manner that many fell to the floor, and others 
cried aloud for mercy. One young woman rose 
and began to exhort the people ; I stopped 
preaching, which I always judged was best, in 
similar instances, and let God send by whom 
he will send : she went on for some time with 
great life and power, and then cried out, let us 
pray : we all kneeled down, and she prayed 
with life and liberty, until she was spent, and so 
forbore. A preacher being present, I called on 
him, and he went to prayer, and while he was 
praying, three were set at liberty ; and, after 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 141 

him, myself and others prayed, and several re- 
ceived justifying faith. The shout continued 
for the space of three or four hours. After 
meeting broke up, I thought it was not necessary 
to meet the class, as we had such a powerful 
time, and it had lasted so long already. The 
young woman, who had given the exhortation 
and prayed, took live others with her, and retired 
to the barn to pray for the mourners, who went 
with them, where they continued until late in 
the evening, and three souls were set at liberty ; 
and another, as she was returning home, in sore 
distress, fell on her face in the woods, where 
she continued in prayer until God set her soul 
at liberty to rejoice in his love. An old Pres- 
byterian woman requested me to call at her 
house on the ensuing day, as she wanted to 
discourse with me on religion ; I did call, and 
she received me very kindly, and then related 
her conviction and conversion, and added, that 
some years after, God had sealed her his to the 
day of eternity ; and, said she, neither our 
preachers or people will believe me when I 
tell them how happy I am. I then endeavoured 
to explain to her the nature of sanctification, 
and what it was, and asked her if we should 
pray together ; she replied, with all my heart. 
After prayer I departed in peace, having no 
doubt but what God had sanctified her soul and 
body. She was the first Presbyterian that I 
ever had met with, that would acknowledge 
sanctification in its proper sense, 

I went to my next appointment, where I had 



142 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



put brother G. D., who professed sanctification, 
class leader, and the Lord attended his words 
with power. This had brought the man of the 
house, where the class met, into doubts, whether 
the work was of God or the devil ; for the people 
had frequently fallen, both under his prayer 
and exhortation. Soon as I came to the house 
he related how great his exercises had been 
respecting the work. One day, said he, I 
thought I would go down to my stack yard, 
which stood some distance from the house, and 
there pray to God to discover the reality of it to 
me ; and on my way thither, as I sat on a 
fence, I thought I saw a man sitting on the next 
pannel : I got off and went down to the stacks, 
and the man went with me, side by side, and 
when I kneeled down to pray, the man stood 
right before me. I prayed until my shirt was 
wet on my back, entreating God that he would 
give me some token whereby I might know 
whether the work was of him or not. The man 
who stood before me said, Blessed are those 
that are pure in heart. I then arose to see 
whether he was a man or not, and went to put 
my hand upon him, and he said, Touch me not! 
I then turned myself round another way, and he 
stood right before me again, and said several 
other words, which I do not relate, and then 
vanished, or ascended, as in a flame of fire. 
Now, said I, do you doubt about the matter, 
whether the work is of God or not ? No, said 
he, I have no doubts about it, for God has sent 
his angel to confirm me. I then went and 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 143 

preached,— the Lord was present. We had a 
glorious time, and several fell to the floor ; we 
had a precious time also in class, and two. 
joined society. 

Next day I went to my appointment, and 
found a large congregation. I preached, and 
the power of the Lord attended the word. One 
young man sprang from the bench, and cried 
aloud for mercy, then fell on his knees and 
prayed fervently. I stopped preaching, and 
when he was done, I went to prayer with him, 
and after me several others ; many wept, some 
cried aloud for mercy, and others fell to the 
floor. When I dismissed the people, to meet 
class, I invited the young man in. Here we 
had a precious season among the dear people 
of God, and some mourners were set at liberty. 
The young man, soon after, went to his brother- 
in-law's to make hay, and there arose a thunder 
storm, and he being under great distress, in the 
agony of his soul, kneeled down and went to 
prayer; his brother-in-law came to him, and 
beat him with his pitchfork, and swore that he 
would kill him, if he did not promise that he 
would not go to Methodist meeting any more ; 
accordingly, he promised him that he would not 
go, and immediately he went into deep despair. 
His parents soon found that his despair affected 
him in his understanding, and they watched 
him lest he should make way with himself. . His 
mind was wretched and filled with horror, and 
his cry was, that he had committed the unpar- 
donable sin ; that he had sinned against the 



144 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



Holy Ghost ! in promising not to go to the 
Methodist meeting any more. In this melan- 
choly desperation, before four weeks were 
expired, he stole away privately and hanged 
himself. This was the end of that poor unfor- 
tunate young man. How careful ought parents, 
and those who have the care of youth under 
them, to be, when they attempt to restrain 
them in matters of religion, lest they bring down 
their own hairs with sorrow to the grave, or are 
left to repent their own imprudent conduct when 
it may be eternally too late. And how must 
they feel or answer it at the bar of God, who 
have made themselves instruments in the hands 
of the devil, to restrain youth from the worship 
of God, while they have allowed them to live 
in all manner of vice, without restraint ; but, 
alas ! how many such are to be found, who are 
enemies to God and all good. 

Our quarterly meeting was held at brother 
G.'s ; many attended it, and brother Garrettson, 
being our presiding elder, opened the meeting, 
and administered the sacrament ; we had a 
precious time. In love-feast many spoke feel- 
ingly of the dealings of God to their souls, and 
seemed lost in the ocean of love ; and many 
wept. After love-feast, brother J. preached, 
and several exhortations were given, and we 
had a precious quarterly meeting. 

Next day, when I retired into a private room, 
and poured out mv soul in prayer, the power of 
God came upon me in a wonderful manner, and 
I went out and told sister J. (her husband being 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 145 

absent) that we would have a prayer meeting ; 
the family came together, and among them a 
Presbyterian girl, and the power of the Lord 
came upon them so that the girl and family all 
cried out. I then went to my next appointment, 
and preached. Here were two Baptist men 
that had been convinced of the truth of what I 
preached, and followed me from place to place. 
One of them, as I was to preach in a Baptist 
settlement, invited their minister to come and 
hear me ; accordingly two of them came. I 
preached from these words, " By grace are ye 
saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, 
it is the gift of God." I endeavoured to show 
that the graces of the Spirit were the gift of 
God. Neither of the preachers said any thing; 
but one of the men arose and said, Do not let 
us ever say any more, as we have done, in our 
church, that we cannot do any thing ; but that 
we will not do any thing. Here I met with an 
old Whitefieldite, who was exceedingly happy ; 
he told his experience, and said, It was the case 
in Whitefield's time, about forty-five years ago, 
much as it is now in the Divine power attending 
the word preached, The ministers perceiving 
they were in danger of losing these members, 
one of them went home with one of the men ; 
he being a rich man they were loath to give him 
up, and tarried with him all day ; and at night 
the other came and tarried until morning, but 
all to no purpose ; he determined to go and 
hear me again, and invited the minister to go 
with him. They both set cut, but the minister 
10 



146 i.ii'E of eenjaMin abbOtt. 

seeing he wias not likely to prevail, turned ano- 
ther way, arid he came to meeting* where we 
had a precious melting season in waiting before 
God. After preaching, I desired all those who 
had a desire to join society, to stay in class 
\vith us ; accordingly the Baptist man and some 
others stayed in. I met society, and we had a 
precious time among us. He and three others 
joined society ; one of them I advised to betake 
herself to her father's barn-, as a place of prayer 
and retirement, and there frequently to suppli- 
cate the throne of grace, and I did not doubt 
but before that day four Weeks she would re- 
ceive the pardoning love of God ; but she 
neglected it from day to day, until one night she 
dreamed that she saw the elements all on fire, 
and that it broke out on Fishkill mountain ; and 
that she saw the Lord appearing with all his 
mighty host to judge the world, that the fire had 
reached one of their fields-, and drew near the 
house* and that she was unprepared to meet 
God. Her screeches and screams alarmed all 
the people in the house ; she sprang but of bed* 
and they did the same : it was some time before 
they could convince her but what the day of 
judgment had in reality commenced; This in- 
creased her distress, and soon after she found 
peace io her soul. 

At my next appointment I had a Baptist 
preacher to hear me— many wept — -I told him 
to wait* and ariy well disposed person might 
tlo the same. When I spoke to the leader I 
feiind him to be a Calvihist, and asked who 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT'. 147 

made him a leader? They said, brother Tolbert. 
I told them that it would not answer to have a 
Calvinist to lead our people. Then, said he, 
I will go out of society. I said, very well ; and 
I crossed out his name, and put in another that 
was settled in our doctrine. I pressed sancti- 
fication on them, and the Spirit of God came 
upon one woman, so that she trembled every 
joint in her body, and soon lost the use of 
speech, and continued so for some time. 

I desired the people to look to themselves, 
for they now saw, with their bodily eyes, how 
God was at work : they stood amazed ; mean- 
while the power of the Lord struck a Baptist 
woman to the floor, and when she came to, she 
exhorted the people to believe, for, said she, I 
am as happy as I can live. When the Methodist 
woman came to, she said, God had sanctified 
her souL We had a blessed time, and I was 
happy in my soul. 

Next day I met brother Garrettson at brother 
B.'s, on Fishkill mountain, and held a love- 
feast : brother G. opened it, and after handing 
about the bread and water, the people spoke 
feelingly of God's dealings with their souls, 
and we had a melting time with them : after 
love-feast brother G. preached and I exhorted. 
When I came to this circuit there were but few 
that knew the Lord, and when I left it, I think 
there were about one hundred that had found 
peace in Him of whom Moses and the prophets 
wrote. We had nine in this place when I came 
on the circuit, and we now had forty added* I 



148 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

took one hundred into society on the circuit. 
We had many precious times here. One day 
we had two Baptist preachers present, and I 
preached up holiness, and the Lord attended the 
word with mighty power, and we had a glorious 
time. One of the preachers told me, that I had 
given them and all the people to the devil, by 
preaching up holiness and freedom from sin : 
for, said he, I sin every day. I then reasoned 
the matter with him, and said, If you are a 
preacher of God, let us unite and preach down 
sin, wherever we find it, for St. John says, 
" He that committeth sin is of the devil ;" and 
what will you make of that 1 By this time a 
large number was gathered about us. I told 
him that the will was one of the greatest facul- 
ties of the human soul. Now, said I, let me 
see you put your hand to your head without the 
approbation of your will ; or any one of you 
either sit down or rise up without the approba- 
tion of your will : a Baptist young man said it 
could not be done, but his wife said it could : 
he desired her to do something without the con- 
sent of her will ; but she confessed she could 
not. The Baptist preacher said he had learned 
something that he never knew before. We 
parted in good friendship, but the old preacher 
stayed, and spent the evening very friendly ; I 
trust he was a well wisher to the cause of God. 

Next morning I went with brother Garrettson 
to New-Rochejle quarterly meeting, where I 
preached from, " Whom he did predestinate, 
them he also called," &c, Several exhorta- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT* 149 

tions were given, and we had a peaceable wait- 
ing upon the Lord. Next morning, brother 
Garrettson opened the love-feast, and many 
spoke feelingly of the dealings of God to their 
souls ; after love-feast one preached, and seve- 
ral gave exhortations, and we had a peaceable 
waiting on the Lord. That evening there came 
as many as twelve to me, and said that they 
wanted clean hearts. Well, said I, if this is 
your desire, I have no doubt but you will receive 
the blessing before you leave the house. I be- 
gan to tell them what the Lord was doing, and 
what I had seen of his work through the land, 
and exhorted them to let every breath be prayer, 
as if it were the last ; and then gave, out a hymn 
and went to prayer, and four of the men fell to 
the floor, and struggled about as long as they 
would have done if their heads had been cut 
off : this frightened the women, who thought 
they never would come to ; but I told them 
there was no danger, and exhorted them to be 
engaged with God for the blessing, and that I 
had no doubt but that he would sanctify them 
before they arose from the floor. They lay 
near one hour, and then one of them turned 
himself and began to praise God, who had 
sanctified his soul and body ; and then another, 
and so on, until they all four professed sancti- 
fication ; then shouted and praised God for 
what he had done for them. I exhorted the 
remaining eight to be much engaged, and the 
Lord would sanctify them also ; they wept 
much, but did not receive the blessing. There 



150 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

was a girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, 
that was struck down when the men were ; but 
no notice had been taken of her ; afterward I 
called for a light to see where she was, and 
when we found her, she was lying in the corner 
of the house like a dead person. I told them 
to let her alone, and the Lord would justify her 
soul : she lay about three hours, and when she 
came to, she said the Lord had pardoned her 
sins, and she had such a peace in her soul that 
she never felt before. We then all joined in 
singing and prayer ; and then parted, it being 
about twelve o'clock at night. In the morning, 
one of the women that had set by the evening 
before, and seen her husband sanctified, was 
determined to have the blessing or die. She 
afterward told me that she eat no breakfast, but 
retired to her chamber and wrestled with God 
until near night, when the power of the Lojc5 
came upon her, and struck her down ; but how 
long she lay, she could not tell ; but she knew 
that the Lord had sanctified her soul. 

I went on to my next appointment, where I 
preached to a large congregation ; for the alarm 
had spread far and wide. When 1 came to my 
application, the power of the Lord came down, 
and about a dozen fell to the floor, and there 
was weeping and shouting and praising God all 
through the house. Some were justified, some 
sanctified, and others seemed lost in the ocean 
of redeeming love. One of our brethren that 
day received the witness or testimony of the 
Spirit, who was sanctified some days before, but 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT, 



151 



had been afraid to own it, for want of a clearer 
manifestation, 

Next morning I went to my appointment, 
wbsre I was to have a watch-night that evening. 
Abundance of people were gathered, I preach- 
ed, and three or four gave a w r ord of exhorta- 
tion ; several cried out. When the meeting 
broke up, a young woman, the daughter of one 
Kinsey, a Quaker, came to me, and requested 
me to preach at her father's ; for she had 
dreamed the night before, that if I would 

f reach there, the Lord would sanctify her soul, 
told her to have an appointment made for the 
next day. Accordingly I went and preached, 
and we had a precious time. After dismissing 
the people, I called the members of class toge- 
ther, and while exhorting them to seek for sanc- 
tification, the hand of the Lord came upon the 
young woman, and likewise on her mother, but 
not so powerfully as on the daughter ; however, 
the young woman continued screaming and 
screeching, and crying for purity of heart until 
the old Friend, her father, grew impatient, and 
came into the room where we were, and said, 
The Lord is not in the earthquake, nor in the 
whirlwind, but in the still small voice : I replied, 
Do you know what the earthquake means ? It is 
the mighty, powerful thunders of God's voice 
from mount Sinai ; it is the Divine law to drive 
us to Christ ; and the whirlwind is the mighty 
power of conviction, like the rushing of a 
mighty wind, tearing away every false hope, 
'&\\d stripping 113 of every ple$, but give me 



152 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT* 

Christ or else I die : with that he left us- 
When his daughter came to, she professed 
sanctincation ; then she enjoyed the Lord in 
the still small voice. The mother seemed to 
believe, and not believe ; one minute, saying 
she did, and in another, unbelief coming in and 
telling her it was not possible the Lord should 
do so much for her, she again doubted. 

Next morning, I went on to another appoint- 
ment, at brother Lyon's. I took my text and 
preached, and the power of the Lord was felt 
among us by many ; brother Lyon's daughter, 
and another young woman, were both struck 
down to the floor. While I stood looking on, 
one of them appeared to have a degree of glory 
in her countenance, and lest my eyes should 
deceive me, I asked a man by me, if ever he 
saw any mortal face shine like hers ; he said 
he never did. Many that had run away from 
the meeting, swore that they would do terrible 
things to me : however, I escaped for that time, 
thanks be to God. 

Next day I went to my appointment, and had 
a pretty large congregation ; for they never had 
seen any thing like this, and probably curiosity 
brought many. I preached with life and pow- 
er ; and one of our local preachers caught of 
the Spirit, and went on, Jehu like, and did me 
much service. There were three or four justi- 
fied, and one sanctified, and the saints were 
built up in the most holy faith. One woman 
fell on the hearth in great extremity of soul. I 
met the class, and the dear people spoke very 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 153 

feelingly, and no harm was done to us by the 
wicked. 

I then went to my next appointment, where I 
was threatened hard by the children of the devil, 
what they would do, if there were such a work 
as at the first meeting ; but this far exceeded 
the former : one woman fell to the floor, and 
cried out, I see the Lord Jesus in his beauty ! 
(repeating it, I believe, twenty times,) but not 
with these bodily eyes, but with the eye of faith ! 
An old man also fell in one corner of the house, 
and made a great uproar. A soldier who stood 
at the door, wept bitterly. Here I expected 
harm would be done ; but there was none, to 
my knowledge. After public meeting, I met 
the class, and all was well. 

I went to my appointment next day, where 
I found many assembled. I preached, and 
God attended the word with power. Here a 
lawyer was convinced of the reality of religion, 
and we had a good meeting. In the evening 
many came to see me, and to talk about reli- 
gion ; I tofd them what I had seen in various 
parts of the Lord's vineyard. 

Next morning I rode to another appointment. 
The congregation consisted chiefly of dead, 
irreligious Church people. I saw but little 
fruit of the Spirit among them ; though I was 
enabled to preach the plan of salvation, and to 
give them Gospel warning. 

I went to my next appointment, on the bor- 
ders of Connecticut, and preached to a hard- 
hearted people, and stiff-necked Predestinari- 



154 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

ans. I met the class which was very small in 
this place. 

Next day I had a crowded house, and four 
or five preachers were present. I preached, 
and several of them exhorted ; the woman of 
the house said, she expected we were going to 
storm helj. Some cried out under sore disr 
tress. 

Next day I met brother G. In the middle 
of my discourse, the Lord preached from hea- 
ven ; some cried aloud, and some fell to the 
floor. Two professed that God had pardoned 
all their sins. Here I fell in with a man, the 
greatest repeater of Scripture that I had ever 
seen. He told me, that he had ofFered to en- 
gage, for a certain consideration, to get the 
Scriptures by heart in one year ; and if he fail- 
ed he would forfeit double the consideration. 
Brother G. went on, till he got to General 
Copelin's ; and I went to the widow Smith's 
and preached, met class, and had a comforta- 
ble time. Here I met with Catharine Van 
Wick, an Israelite, in whom, I believe, there 
was no guile ; she professed holiness, and I 
believe she enjoyed it. 

Next morning I set out for my circuit, went 
to my appointment, and found a considerable 
number gathered. Here were a good many 
Baptists, but God worked, and many cried out. 
I met the class, and had a melting time among 
the little few that waited on the Lord. Several 
Baptists made intercession for me to preach ia 
their neighbourhood, about one mile and a hajf 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 155 

distant. I had a meeting appointed, and preach** 
ed there, and I trust the word did not fall to the 
ground ; but that the good seed was sown in 
that place. 

I went next day to another appointment, 
preached, met the class, and had a good time. 
The people gave great attention. I then went 
to Salisbury, and preached to a large congrega- 
tion. There, some dear old white-headed men, 
whose silvered locks were in full bloom for the 
grave, cried as if they had been whipped. In-? 
deed the word is a rod of correction. One 
young man was so powerfully wrought upon, 
that he came to me to know the reason : for* 
said he, I have heard that text preached from 
many times, but it never had such an effect on 
me before. I told him, the eternal God was at 
work with him, and now was the time to make 
an application to the Lord, that he might bless 
him. Here the woman of the house was the 
most uncommon, cunning, religious person 
that I had met with. We had a good time in 
class. 

At my next appointment, I preached to a 
small congregation in a Baptist settlement. 
Here a Predestinarian preacher attended, and 
seemed very friendly ; but after meeting the 
class, I inquired into his character, and they 
informed me that he lived about half a mile 
from that place, that he had two wives, one an 
old woman, and the other a young one ; the old 
one lived about a mile and a half from him, and 
fche young one with him, Well, said I, do yju 



156 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

call him a good preacher ? They said yes, 
they thought he was ; I told them that he was 
a preacher for the devil, and an heir of damna- 
tion ; and I warned the Methodists against 
hearing him, at the peril of their souls. 

I went next day to my appointment, preach- 
ed in the evening to about five hundred people, 
and among them were two ministers ; several 
were cut to the heart, and thirteen or fourteen 
came to join society ; we took them in, and 
spoke as kindly to them as we could, they 
being only young in the way. 

At my next appointment, I preached to a 
crowded house. Here was a Baptist preacher, 
who invited me to dine with him ; I met the 
class and had a precious time ; then I went 
home with the minister who used me kindly. 

Next morning I went early to my following 
appointment, having a good way to ride ; when 
I came there, I found that Mr. Steel, a Pres- 
byterian preacher, had appointed a meeting at 
the next house, a little way off, at the same 
hour ; I told the man of the house, it was not 
worth my while to pretend to preach, the people 
being chiefly Presbyterians, and but three or 
four Methodists. Accordingly we went to hear 
him ; his text was, " Ask and ye shall receive, 
seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be 
opened unto you." In the first place, he invi- 
ted and commanded them all to believe ; under 
the second head, he told them who it was that 
Blight ask ; and said, it was believers, God's 
ehosen people ; under the third head, he spoke 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 157 

Comfortable words to God's peopU, and so- 
concluded. After he had done, I steppedj up 
to him and said, How do you do, HijLr. Stefel ? 
Said he, I do not know you. I told him I yas 
a preacher. I hope, said he, you preach \he 
truth. I told him I should begin in about fifteen 
minutes. I suppose I had about five/timesjas 
many to hear me as I should have had, if it lad 
not been for his preaching ; for the yhole con- 
gregation, and himself with them, came to hear 
me. I took for my text the words j)f PilatJ to 
our Saviour, 44 What is truth iV This text Mr. 
Steel had given me, by saying, t hope /you 
preach the truth. If ever I preac/ied witfc the 
Spirit, I did at that time. The people cried out* 
and Mr. Steel seemed exceedingly uneasy, and 
would walk to the fire, and then back again ; 
then another would cry out, and h^ would scratch 
or rub his head like a man confused and per- 
plexed. I dismissed the people, met the class, 
and had a peaceable waiting before the Lord. 

I next went to E squire King's, on Mount 
Washington, and preached to a fine congrega- 
tion, considering the place, and we had a 
precious time. In class a young man prayed 
very powerfully, and in such a manner, that I 
concluded in my mind he would be a preacher ; 
and so it proved, for he shortly after set out in 
the work. 

The next day I went from the mount to 
another appointment, where I found the man a 
friend to Methodism, but the woman an enemy. 
The people came out, and I preached to them 3 



158 Life of benjamin abbots. 

thej appeared to be a hard-hearted, stiff-necked 
set 

My next appointment was at brother Wager's, 
where I preached to a large congregation. 
We had a powerful time, some cried aloud for 
mercy, and others shouted praises to God for 
redeeming love. I met the class, which was 
targe. Here I found a precious, loving people* 
and had a powerful melting time among them. 

I went next day to Captain Salbury's, where 
I hid a pretty little congregation, who gave 
good attention to the word spoken. Some wept* 
soma sighed, and others groaned. I met the 
class, and found some precious souls, happy in 
their God. 

I went next to Doctor Hambleton's* and 
preached to an attentive congregation. I met 
the class, and had a melting time. 

My next appointment being in Albany, and 
the river being so full of ice, I was informed 
that I could not cross, so went home with a 
friend. In the morning there was made a great 
roaring fire, just before we went to prayer, and 
n young man that stood on the hearth after we 
had sung and kneeled down, began to totter, 
and at last fell into the blazing fire ; our friend 
seeing him fall, sprang and pulled him instantly 
out again. After prayer I asked him if he was 
subject to fits ; he said no : I asked him if his 
soul was converted to God ; he said> he did not 
know that it was. I then told him that I knew 
it was not ; and besought him to call upon God 
*o have me*cy on him, adding, that he might 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOT#. 153 

l>e exceedingly thankful he was out of helL 
It was owing, providentially, to that man's pull- 
ing him out of the fire, or he would have been 
beyond the reach of* mercy. His body would 
have burned to death, and what would have 
become of his soul? 

Next day I went to my appointment, where 
I had a tolerable congregation ; but a mixed 
multitude of Presbyterians, Baptists, and Me- 
thodists. I preached, and had a peaceable 
waiting upon God ; but I cannot say much good 
was done. I also met the little class. Next 
day my appointment was at a tavern ; I saw the 
people frequently running in and out of the bar 
room, and I soon discovered that this was no 
place to win souls. I told them that I would 
preach there no more. One of our friends gave 
leave for preaching at his house. I met the 
little class up stairs. 

I set out for my next appointment : I had 
been previously informed that I was going to a 
nest of hornets : when I arrived at the place, I 
found a large congregation gathered, and I 
preached from the Clay and the Potter. I 
discovered while I was speaking, that several 
sat as on nettles and thorns ; however, I went 
on and finished my discourse, and immediately 
was attacked by some of them. They asked 
me if the meeting was over ; I told them yes. 
Then, about half a dozen began to dispute : for 
%n my explaining the text, I tore old Calvin up* 
from the very bottom. We continued our dis- 
crete from the time that meeting broke up until 



160 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

about eleven o'clock at night. I told them to 
speak only one at a time, and they would last 
the longer : one of them asked me what I would 
do with this text, " Whom he did foreknow," 
&c. I told him to spread it far and wide that 
on that day four weeks, I would preach from 
those very words. At the time appointed, hun- 
dreds came together, and I preached from the 
words. They were exceedingly attentive, 
and listened with all the powers they had. 
After I had concluded and dismissed them, they 
said, if I had beat them in argument, I had not 
in judgment. In a short time afterward, about 
thirty joined society, and talked of building- a 
meeting house. 

I went down to Captain S 's, and told 

him that if he could get a place in a certain 
town, about two miles distance, I would preach 
there. He asked me if I would preach in the 
Presbyterian meeting house, if he could get it. 
I told him yes. He got his horse and rode 
to the minister, and asked him if he were 
willing to let a pious old man preach in his 
meeting house, as he was just going to leave 
the parts. He said he was if the elders were ; 
he then went to them and obtained their consent. 
Accordingly I preached, and the people gave 
great attention. After preaching, I told them 
that if they were willing, I would preach there 
again on the Monday following, on predestina- 
tion, as it was a spare day with me. Accord- 
ingly, I preached at the time appointed, from, 

Whom he did foreknow, he also did predesti- 



llFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 161 

nate," &e. The preacher came with his pen, 
ink, and paper, and sat behind me in the pulpit, 
and began to write ; but in a few minutes got 
lost and confused, and laid aside his pen and 
ink. I went on and finished my discourse ; the 
people gave great attention, and I saw some 
weeping in the galleries. After I had done, the 
preacher rose up and said, This fellow has had 
my pulpit two days ; then said to me, I want to 
know if you hold to the fall of man ? I answered, 
I appeal to this people, if ever it were preached 
fuller from this pulpit, than I have this day 
preached it. He then asked me, if I held with 
the main heads of the Westminster Confession 
of Faith. \ told him no. He then got out his 
articles, and began to read them ; but the 
greater part of the people followed me out of 
the house. 

The Saturday and Sunday following, we held 
our quarterly meeting at brother Wager's. On 
Saturday one of the preachers preached, and 
there were several exhortations ; we had a 
melting, precious time among the people of 
God. Sunday we had a good many friends at 
love-feast, considering it was a new jcircuit ; 
and after handing the bread and water about, 
there were two or three prayed, and brother 
Garrettson set the friends to speaking their 
experiences, and many spoke feelingly. I arose 
and claimed the promises, that God would 
sanctify his people, and besought every person 
to be engaged for the blessing, and to take no 
denial, but have it to-day ; and the power of 
11 



162 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



the Lord came down, first on brother S 5 s 

daughter, then on his wife, then on a black 
woman belonging to the house ; there were 
three sanctified in a short time, and we had a 
most blessed, precious, powerful time in wait- 
ing on the Lord. 

We now set out for conference, which was 
to be held in the city of New- York. We had 
several love-feasts as we passed along ; and 
when we came to the city, we met, and joined 
with our brethren there. Our conference went 
on from day to day in brotherly love and unity ; 
there was preaching by one or another every 
night. I was sitting one day in the kitchen, 
where I put up, smoking my pipe,*being tired 
of confinement in conference so long, and the 
Spirit of the Lord came upon me in a miracu- 
lous, powerful manner, so that I was fully con- 
vinced that something great would be done at 
the conference. Next day Bishop Asbury 
opened the love feast ; then brother Whatcoat 
spoke ; and when he had done, I arose and 
told them my experience : the people gave 
great attention, and when I came to the ac- 
count of my sanctification, down dropped one 
of the preachers, and did not rise until the Lord 
sanctified his soul. I then claimed the pro- 
mises, and in a moment the house was filled 
with cries, and screeches, and wonderful shouts ! 
Several went among the people, to those whom 
they found in distress, to admonish, exhort, and 
pray with them. Afterward, six told me that 
God had sanctified them ; and, I think, seven, 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 163 

that God had justified them. Three had to be 
carried home that evening, who were not able 
to go of themselves. 

After conference I went to my appointment 
in Newburg circuit ; I called at a Presbyterian 
elder's and preached in his house, and held a 
love-feast at a tavern, where we had a very 
powerful time : four or five were sanctified, and 
three or four justified. 

Next I went to Field Burress's, a place 
where there never had been preaching ; here 
God laid to his helping hand, several cried 
aloud for mercy, while the sinners outside roved 
round the house like wolves ; after they were 
a little pacified I dismissed the people. 

Next day I went on to my appointment, where 
I found a clever little congregation, and one of 
the most happy old men that I had ever seen. 
I preached to the people, and had as happy a 
meeting as I ever had ; for if the Lord had not 
withheld his hand, I could not have preached. 
After preaching I met the class, and one half 
of them lay on the floor ; the sinners around 
looked like death, and I exhorted them to fly 
to Christ, telling them that they need not say, 
Who shall ascend into heaven to bring him 
down] or who shall descend into the deep to 
bring him up ? For if they would not believe 
this, they would not believe if he were to ap- 
pear in a flaming fiery bush as he did to Moses. 
Every time I preached in this place we had a 
shout in the camp. One day an old Baptist 
man said, You have stripped me of every prin- 



164 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

ciple I had, and what do you advise me to do ? 
Father, said 1, it is never too late to turn from 
bad to good : he said, If you would always stay 
on the circuit, I would join with you : that, 
said I, is a trick of the devil, you will always 
have as good preachers as I. Well, said he, 
set my name down, and he desired to have a 
day of fasting and prayer, and they appointed 
the Friday following. When I came round 
again, they told me that it was the greatest day 
they had ever seen, that the slain lay for hours 
on the floor. 

I went on to my next appointment and 
preached ; the power of the Lord was present 
to heal ; some professed sanctification, and 
some justification, and many others wept. I 
met class, and several joined society, and 
among the rest an old Presbyterian that had 
been a steady attendant, and nobody thought 
he ever would join us. I examined him closely 
as to his experience, and finding that he held our 
principles, I advised the class to have him for their 
leader, as they had no suitable person among 
them for that station : so he was put in leader. 

Next day, being excessively cold, I had to 
ride twelve miles to my appointment, where I 
found a clever little congregation, and a Bap- 
tist preacher with them : I warmed myself and 
then preached from these words, " Blessed are 
the pure in heart, for they shall see God." — 
While I was speaking the minister appeared to 
be quite in an agony, he was so angry ; not- 
withstanding God blessed many of the people. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 165 



When I concluded, the minister arose and 
asked me if the meeting was ended. I said 
yes. He then said, As a servant of Jesus 
Christ, I cannot but contradict what has been 
spoken. It is true, the words of your text are 
, Christ's, but there is no such thing in this life 
as a purity of heart ; for we cannot live in this 
life without committing sin ; and you spoke as 
though a man made himself pure in heart. I 
said, I appeal to this people in what way and 
manner I preached. First, I showed that no 
man by nature was pure in heart ; I then showed 
that a man was justified by an act of free grace ; 
and afterward that he was made pure in heart, 
by the Holy Ghost given unto him. Now, if 
you are a minister of Jesus Christ, preach 
down sin to hell from whence it came, and 
preach up holiness of heart. I then went into 
the other room and called the class, and we had 
a precious time among the dear people. I found 
that they did believe that it was their privilege 
to be made pure in heart. 

I went next day to my appointment, and 
preaching not being until candle light, and a 
Quaker meeting being in sight, I thought I 
would go to Quaker meeting. There were 
two girls and two men spoke ; one of the 
young men, I thought, spoke feelingly ; but 
as for the others, there was no religion in what 
they said, that I could perceive. At last an old 
man got up, and leaning on the top of his cane, 
said, " We are too apt to be running after the 
Lo-heres and Lo-theres" and so went on with 



166 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

such like strange talk. When their meeting 
broke up, I took an opportunity to speak with 
the young man, and asked him why he broke 
off so soon, for I knew there was more where 
that came from. Said he, I will come and see 
thee in the evening : I thanked him, and told him 
I should be glad to have some discourse with 
him ; so went to my appointment, and in the 
evening preached, and had a peaceable waiting 
upon God. In my discourse I told the people 
that the Scriptures were the standard, and if our 
experience did not come up to that, it was not 
genuine ; therefore, we must try ourselves by 
the touchstone of truth. One young Quaker, 
after the people were chiefly gone out, said, Did 
I understand thee ] Why ? said L Did I not 
hear thee, said he, say that the Scriptures were 
the word of God ? Why, said I, nobody denies 
that. Yes, said he, I do, and defy thee to prove 
it. I then began with John, " In the beginning 
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and 
the Word was God," &c, &c. Now, said I, my 
dear, is not this the word of God ? He could not 
deny it ; but, said he, we, as a people, deny the 
Bible being the word of God. Next morning 
an old preacher came to see me, and I said to 
him, one of your young men surprised me last 
night. How so ? said he. Why, said I, he said, 
you, as a people, d-enied the Bible to be the word 
of God ; and St. Paul says, " All Scripture is 
given by inspiration of God," &c. The old man 
looked confused. Why, says he, we belieye the 
>Scriptures to be the declarative word of God. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABEOTT. 167 

I went to my next appointment, and preached 
to the people : we had a precious, melting sea- 
son : I met the class, and we had a comforta- 
ble time among the dear people of God. 

I went to my appointment at brother I. Elli- 
son's, near New- Windsor. This man has built 
us a preaching house at his own expense, and a 
pretty little one it is. He took me into a back 
room and said, If you go on as people say you 
do, you will drive all the people away, for which 
I should be sorry ; for I have a great regard for 
your society, and have built you a preaching 
house. I told him we must leave the event to 
God ; but he seemed very uneasy. I still told 
him, that we w r ould leave the matter with God. 
There were in class, at the time, not above ten 
persons, and before I left the circuit there were 
above forty. Here something happened one 
evening very uncommon ; as brother Brush was 
preaching, the candles on a sudden became 
dim, and they gradually grew dimmer, until 
they went entirely out. This was interpreted 
many ways, as though it were an omen of some 
strange event. However, it might readily be 
accounted for from natural causes : the room 
being so exceedingly close, with the doors and 
windows shut, that a sufficient quantity of air 
could not come in. The perspiration and breath 
of the people, together with the burning of the 
candles, producing so great a dampness or con- 
tamination of the air, as to destroy or deaden 
the flammability, and consequently the candles 
might be thus extinguished. 



168 LIFE OF BENJAMIN AB20TT. 

I had told the people that I would preach on 
predestination ; a great number gathered, and I 
preached accordingly : many were stripped of 
Calvinism, and two joined society : one of them 
became a great advocate for our cause. Here 
we held our quarterly meeting, and we had a 
large congregation. In the love-feast, after 
handing the bread and water about, the people 
spoke the clearest of justification and sanctifi- 
caticn, in point of distinction between them, of 
any I had heard in those parts. About thirty 
had professed sanctification, from the time I 
went on the circuit till then. 

Here brother Anthony Turek found the bless- 
ing. At this meeting about six or seven were 
sanctified, and as many justified.* The hour 
of preaching coming on, the preaching room 
could by no means contain the people ; we 
therefore had to retire to a large barn. Brother 
Brush preached, and after him an exhortation 
was given. After meeting I went to an appoint- 
ment at Newburg town, and preached to a 
pretty large congregation, chiefly Presbyterians. 
I met class and found them very lively and 
happy in the way of salvation. 

Next morning I went on to my appointment 
at S. Fowler's ; he is a precious man, and his 
wife is a daughter of Abraham. I preached 
from Rev. v, 1-5, and the Lord attended the 

* The transcriber has been informed from good autho- 
rity, since the death of Mr. Abbott, that sixteen souls 
were that day sanctified, instead of six or seven ; and a 
much larger number justified. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 169 



word with great power ; many cried out and fell 
to the floor ; and several, when they came to, 
professed that God had sanctified their souls. 
One woman lost the use of her limbs for three 
days ; her husband wept much, thinking he had 
lost his wife ; however, at the end of three days, 
she came to, and was as happy as she could 
live in the body. At this place, we hardly ever 
failed having a powerful time of the outpouring 
of the Spirit of God. The following day I 
preached at my next appointment : some cried 
aloud, and some fell to the floor, and others 
fled for fear. We had a most powerful time, 
and two joined society. Next morning an old 
Irish woman came to me, being convinced of 
her backslidings, to know what she should do 
to be saved ; for, said she, I knew the Lord to 
be precious to_ my soul about fifteen years, but 
in coming from Ireland, I sinned, and lost it ; 
and from that time I have never had one ray of 
Divine love, although twenty-five years since. 
I said, you are out of hell ! Call upon the 
Lord to have mercy on you. After exhorting 
her, she went away ; the next news that I heard 
of her, she was in black despair, and so con- 
tinued. I went to see her, and prayed with 
her, but all to no purpose ; she departed this 
life in about three months after. 

I preached in the evening, and we had a pre- 
cious melting time ; the woman of the house 
said she never had seen such a time before. I 
spoke from these words, " Buy the truth and 
sell it not." 



170 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

I went next morning to another appoint- 
ment with the man of the house and his wife ; 
they had been old Moravians. I preached to 
the people, and God attended the word with 
power ; some cried, some shouted, and others 
fell upon the floor. Upon the whole, we had a 
wonderful shout in the camp : some opposers got 
very angry and ran away. I met class and we 
had a heavenly time. Here the old Moravian 
man and woman both got very much tried : she 
told the people that she hoped the Lord would 
give me to see my error before I died ; but, 
blessed be the Lord, he gave them to see their 
error before I came round again. 

I went to my next appointment, and had a 
small congregation in a Baptist settlement, 
where some fruit appeared. I met the class, 
which was small, but they were a precious 
people. 

Next day I went to another appointment and 
preached ; some cried for mercy. I met class, 
and had a happy time. 

Next day I preached, and the Lord gave me 
great liberty : many cried aloud. In the class 
I found a precious people. 

Next day my appointment was at brother 
Dayton's, where the meeting house was built 
by the Baptists and Methodists : each were to 
take their turns ; but the Baptist preacher got 
angry, and said he would not preach there any 
more if the Methodists did. I preached ; the 
people seemed very attentive, and much tender- 
ed. I met the class, which was large, and we 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 171 

had a precious time. A small dispute arose 
here : a young woman had married out of 
society, and I told her to come forward and 
answer to the charge, and she said that she 
thought we would not turn her out of society 
for marrying a member of another Church. I 
told her no, if he were a regular approved mem- 
ber of another Church. She said he was a 
member of the Quaker society, and so the mat- 
ter ended. I then went through the class ; 
many spoke feelingly, and some that had lately 
received large manifestations of the grace of 
God, seemed altogether lost in the ocean of love. 

I went to my next appointment, and before 
the people gathered, I was telling some present 
what had happened in my travels ; and that I 
had once taken a man by the hand and said, 
" God out of Christ is a consuming fire," which 
fastened upon him, so that after he went home 
and was in bed, in the night he arose from his 
bed, expecting every moment to be damned, as 
he was out of Christ ; however, he never gave 
over struggling and praying till God blessed his 
soul. While I was telling this, a young woman 
came in, and it fastened on her heart, so that 
she went home immediately in sore distress of 
soul. I preached to the people, and after dis- 
missing them met the class ; we had a very pre- 
cious melting time, and many of them spoke 
very feelingly of the dealings of God to their 
souls. After dismissing the class, the man of 
the house said to me, Let us go and see the 
girl that went away before preaching. We 



172 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

went, and found the house full of people ; I 
preached to them, and many hearts were ten- 
dered, for the Spirit of God attended the word. 
After meeting, I was invited to stay all night, 
which I consented to. I lay in the same room 
where the old people were, and in the dead 
hour of the night I heard the old woman cry 
out, Hannah! Hannah! I listened, and soon 
heard the voice of prayer in another room. I 
said, Mammy, let her alone, she will do well 
enough, for she was praying to God for mercy. 
However, the old woman continued to call and 
cry out, until the girls came running into the 
room, saying, Mammy, pray for us ! Daddy, 
pray for us ! or we shall be damned this night ! 
They arose from their beds and began to pray. 
I suppose the old man had never prayed be- 
fore since God made him. The old woman 
said we must have the preacher up ; but by that 
time I was half dressed. I went to prayer, and 
believe the girls would have found peace that 
night, but I had no one to help me : I prayed 
until I was exhausted. However, the old man, 
his wife, three daughters, and two sons, were 
all brought in shortly after. Paul may plant, 
and Apollos water, but God giveth the increase. 
Ail glory be to him alone. 

Next day I went to my appointment, at 
brother — 's, and preached to a large congre- 
gation in the barn : God attended the word with 
power. One old Presbyterian grew very angry, 
and said I ought to be kicked out of the place ; 
m old woman stepped up to him and said, I am 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 173 

a Baptist, and you a Presbyterian, and if I ever 
heard the truth preached, I have heard it this 
day. I went to the house, but the old man 
seemed mad enough to injure me. Here we 
had made great improvement among the Ger- 
mans : brother G. D. had got among them. 
We had a very comfortable waiting in class 
before God, and some joined society. 

It was now time to repair to our quarterly 
meeting, which was held at brother Dayton's. 
Brother Brush preached on Saturday ; afterward 
some exhortations were given. On Sunday, in 
love-feast, after handing about the bread and 
water, the people spoke feelingly, considering 
their inconvenient situation in a private house, 
with three or four rooms on a floor, and a great 
number in the place. Here I will relate an 
occurrence which, I think, is worth noticing. 
Brother Woolsey's son, Thomas, and two of his 
cousins with him, went to the barn, and there 
wrestled with God in fervent prayer some time ; 
afterward came to the house, and the power of 
the Lord came upon them all three in such a 
manner that they fell to the floor, shouting and 
praising God, and they continued till almost 
day. God sanctified another man while he lay 
in his bed, as he told me afterward ; also, 
Elijah and Chloe, son and daughter of brother 
Woolsey, received the blessing of sanctifica- 
tion : there were now five in two families that 
professed to enjoy that blessing. They set up 
prayer meeting ; the people attended, and the 
Lord blessed them in it : ten, twelve, or fifteen 



174 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

have been justified in one meeting, and several 
were sanctified. 

While I rode on that circuit I took between 
eighty and ninety into society, and saw thirty 
souls sanctified ; but I believe more than dou- 
ble that number were sanctified on the circuit 
while I rode there. When I left it, the work 
was going on with as great rapidity as ever. 

It may not be amiss here to relate a narrative 
that I had from a pious woman, concerning her 
brother. He was a young man that had openly 
and publicly espoused deistical principles, as- 
serting that there was no place of future punish- 
ment, or in other words, no hell : his conduct 
corresponding with his principles, and being 
possessed of a very handsome estate, he soon 
wasted his constitution by intemperance : finding 
it decaying very fast, he was obliged to try the 
sea in order to repair it again. Accordingly he 
took a passage with an old pious Presbyterian 
captain, that kept up prayer on board, and with 
whom he -often disputed the point, asserting, 
that he did firmly believe, that there was no hell 
or place of future punishment. However, they 
had not been long at sea, before the Lord sent 
down a mighty tempest, as he did on Jonah ; 
all human probability of surviving was taken 
away : the captain perceiving their imminent 
danger began to exhort them to prepare to 
meet God, when, to his great surprise, the first 
man that bawled out was Mr. No-Heller. The 
captain being a steady, firm man, turned to him 
and said, What is the matter with you ? I hope 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 175 

you are not afraid to die ! I thought you told 
me that you verily believed that there was no 
hell. ! said he, all bathed in tears, wringing 
his hands, it will do well enough to talk about 
on land, but it will not do for a storm at sea ! 
However, it pleased God to spare them, and to 
bring them all safe home again, and he, finding 
his health a little recovered, began to be asham- 
ed of his testimony at sea, and soon fell into 
his former excesses again, which brought on his 
old complaints ; he was reduced to a sick bed 
and all hopes being gone, as to his recovery, 
he began to seek God in earnest ; and the Lord 
in his infinite mercy spoke peace to his soul. 
He continued happy in his love, exhorting them 
that came in his way, against all such diabolical 
principles : he departed this life in a transport 
of joy, and, I trust, rests where the wicked cease 
from troubling, and the weary shall for ever be 
at rest. ! that every deist and unbeliever 
were convinced that his principles will not do 
for a dying bed, or a judgment day ! The most 
heroic infidels tremble at the approach of death. 

I set out for conference, and came down to 
General Copelin's, where I preached, and the 
power of the Lord attended the word ; many 
wept, and we had a precious time. 

I went on and overtook brother G. and we 
rode in company to New- York. In our con- 
versation together, he asked me if I desired we 
might have such a meeting as we had there the 
last conference. I told him I did, and that we 
might have a much greater. Why, said he, 



176 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT* 



there were but a few individuals who liked it 

! how this struck me, that he, who was once 
so active in it, should now appear to be so much 
the reverse. However, I told him that it was 
of God, and that I did desire to see a much 
greater work. But I soon discovered, that there 
would be nothing great done, there was such a 
division of sentiment among the preachers about 
the work. We had some love-feasts as we 
passed along ; brother G. opened them, and 
many spoke their experiences, I observed, 
that on this journey, I was not called upon, 
either to preach, pray, or exhort. However, this 
was no great cross to me, as I was much broken 
down, just coming off my circuit. We went 
into the city of New-York, and the next day 
conference was opened : we went on very 
lovingly in the affairs of the Church, from day 
to day, until it came to the appointment of our 
love-feast ; then it was brought on the carpet 
by brother R. Cloud, concerning the love-feast 
at our last conference. He said that I hallooed 
and bawled, and cried, Fire, fire ! and scared the 
people. Then brother G. got up, and seconded 
him, and opposed the work with all the powers 
he had ; brother J. Lee said he was happy in 
the love-feast. The bishop said he did not want 
to hear them halloo, and shout, and bawl ; but 
he wanted to hear them speak their experiences. 

1 said, Then, perhaps I had better not go to the 
love-feast. I was not the least angry ; but I 
was grieved in soul for the cause. Our appoint- 
ment was up at the new meeting house, and 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 177 

abundance of people gathered. The bishop 
opened the love-feast, and when the bread and 
water had gone round, and the people were at 
liberty to speak, not one spoke for some time. 
Then brother Garrettson got up, and exhorted 
the people ; and then brother Cloud exhortid 
them likewise ; but all to no purpose. Among 
the several hundreds present, there were but a 
few that spoke. For my part, I kept silent 
under much depression of mind, not feeling 
much faith or liberty of spirit. After some ex- 
hortations, the meeting broke up. Many of the 
friends afterward told me they felt death in 
their souls, and came to me to know what was 
the matter. I told them simply that brother 
Cloud had said that there was no good done at 
the last conference love-feast ; but there were, 
to the best of my recollection, six, who told me 
that they were sanctified, and seven that they 
were justified, at that love-feast. Brother Mor- 
rel said that this last love-feast was the most 
dead and lifeless love-feast that ever had been 
in York before. I understood that the preach- 
ers, in discoursing together, acknowledged that 
they had been wrong in what they had done and 
said on the subject. ! how careful ought 
the preachers to be, how they censure or speak 
against a work merely because there are some 
things attending it, which are not exactly agree- 
able to their views or wishes ; great harm may 
be done by unguarded expressions, or opposi- 
tions. We should learn to bear and forbear, 
and to make every necessary allowance. 
12 



178 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABEOTT. 

I received my appointment on Long Island, 
and accordingly took my station. The next 
day, I preached to a small congregation with 
life and power ; the Lord attended the word 
with success ; some young ladies were cut to 
the heart, and one gentleman cried out for 
mercy, and before meeting ended he found 
peace and joined society. ' 

Next day X went to Newtown- Here we 
had a preaching house, and a few people, but 
very dead. I preached to them, and saw but 
little fruit ; I met the society, and exhorted 
them to get more religion, and urged them to 
seek sanctification. This, I believe, is the 
oldest Methodist society on the Island. 

I then went to my appointment at Jamaica, a 
very wicked little town, and preached in the 
evening in the Free Masons' lodge room, a 
very convenient place. I spoke with freedom ; 
but some of the children of the wicked one, 
being vexed, blew a conkshell round the house 
while I wag speaking. I met the little class, 
which was only three in number ; I found that, 
their eyes were in part opened, but they knew 
not God. 

I went to my appointment at a clever Pres- 
byterian's ; his wife also was a clever woman ; 
but they knew not God. I preached, and the 
Lord touched the heart of their daughter ; she 
cried for mercy, and continued until God set her 
soul at liberty. I met class, and several spoke 
feelingly of the dealings of God to their souls. 

Next day I met class not far from Rockaway 



LIFE OP BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 179 

meeting house, and had a middling time, con- 
sidering the society had been on the decline for 
two years. 

Next day I preached to a large congrega- 
tion, and there seemed to be some little move 
among the people ; however, I hoped to see 
better times. I then went to an appointment 
at brother Raynor's at Hempstead South, where 
I preached with some degree of freedom ; but 
cannot say with as much life and power as 
usual. After preaching, I met class, and had 
a tolerable waiting before God ; some spoke 
feelingly of the things of God, and others were 
very tender. 

I went next day to a little town, called Jeru- 
salem, (but not the city of the great King,) and 
preached to a small congregation of hard-heart- 
ed sinners, and backsliders. After preaching, 
I met class, which consisted of about half a 
dozen ; here it seemed to be dead work. I 
retired into a back room, and poured out my 
soul before God for them. Then I went off 
of the Brush plains, and preached to about a 
dozen ; this was hard work. I dismissed the 
people, and met the class : here I found a dear 
old German and his wife. 

Next morning, I went to my appointment at 
Z. Nail's, and preached to a small congrega- 
tion ; here I endeavoured to give old Calvinism 
a stroke. I tarried all night with brother Nail. 
There being no class here, I desired brother N. 
to give out preaching in two different places 
against I came round again. 



180 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN AEBOTT. 



I went to my appointment at Patchogue, and 
had a clever congregation. Here was a meet- 
ing house built for the use of every society : I 
took my text, " Examine yourselves whether ye 
be in the faith ; prove your own selves," &c, 2 
Cor. xiii, 5. I endeavoured to show the neces- 
sity of so doing, because many false teachers 
had gone out into the world, " teaching damna- 
ble heresies, denying the Lord that bought 
them." A Baptist preacher being present, he 
appeared to get very angry, and rose up, and 
contradicted me. I told him to sit down and I 
would talk with him by and by; he did so, 
but it was not long before he rose and contra- 
dicted me again. I desired him to sit down till 
I was done, for it was beneath a gentleman to 
act so ; he then sat down and was quiet. I 
went on and finished my discourse and dis- 
missed the people. I then told him that I was 
ready to hear him ; he might now rise and clear 
up what he had said. He spoke ; and after 
he had done, I endeavoured to clear up what I 
had said, and added, Tell all your neighbours, 
and those around you, that this day four weeks 
I intend to preach a sermon on predestination. 
I then went home with Mr. S. at Blue Point ; 
he was an advocate for religion, but a stiff An- 
tinomian. 

Next morning I went on to Mr. Leeke's, a 
Presbyterian, at Middle Island, and preached 
to an attentive little congregation, who had very 
little religion among them. I asked Mr. Leeke 
what sort of people I had to preach to next day ; 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 181 



he told me they were all Calvinists, and in a 
Baptist meeting house. Said I, How long have 
our preachers preached there ? About three or 
four years, said he. What, said I, and no con- 
verts ? No, said he. This will never do, I 
shall not preach long there, said I, without 
some fruits. 

I went next day to my appointment at the 
Baptist meeting house. Here I found a clever 
congregation, to whom I preached. After 
meeting, a number came round me and said 
that I had given them all to the devil. Given 
you all to the devil ! Why, what sort of peo- 
ple are you, said I, that I should give you all to 
the devil 1 I give no Christians to the devil. 
I told them, that that day four weeks I would 
preach a sermon on predestination. 

I went to my appointment at brother Brush's, 
at Wene Comack ; there we had a preaching 
house, and I preached to a large congregation 
with much liberty. After preaching I met the 
class, and found some souls happy in God. — 
This is the oldest society we have on Long 
Island, excepting the one at Newtown. 

Next day 1 went to my appointment, where 
I found a small congregation, and had a pre- 
cious time both in preaching and in class. 

Next day I went to brother B 's ; some 

wept under the word. After preaching I met 
the little class, and endeavoured to press them 
to seek after sanctification ; but it seemed to 
them as an idle tale. 

I went to my next appointment, where the 



182 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

power of God struck a Baptist preachers 
daughter, and she cried for mercy, and another 
young woman did the same. The preacher's 
daughter went home, saying that I preached 
hell and damnation, and that there was no 
mercy for her. I told the people it was not 
<* our doctrine at all, nor any thing like it ; we 
preach free grace, and free mercy for peni- 
tent sinners. The other, after some prayers, 
found peace, and in class joined society ; we 
had a precious time. 

Next day I went on to another appointment, 
had a small congregation, and about fourteen 
or fifteen members of society. After preach- 
ing, I met class ; they spoke very feelingly of 
the dealings of God with their souls. I then 
went to brother Cole's, and met class in the 
evening ; there we had a powerful time, many 
spoke very feelingly, and we had a great 
meeting. 

I went next day to the paper mill, at Hemp- 
stead harbour, and preached with great free- 
dom ; God attended the word with power, and 
many wept. I met class, and had a very pre- 
cious time. 

Next day I went to sister Serring's (an old 
widow woman at S erring town,) and preached 
in the meeting house, to a very attentive con- 
gregation, and met class ; they spoke of the 
dealings of God to their souls, and I was happy 
in my own soul. Here Mr. G.'s daughter 
asked me to preach at her father's. I thanked 
her, and told her to have it given out in four 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 183 

weeks. I went on to my appointment at Ja- 
maica, and preached with life and power ; two 
women fell to the floor ; the wicked sounded 
their horn round the house ; however, this did 
not hinder our meeting ; two were brought into 
covenant. 

I went to Mr. C 's, and preached to a 

wicked set, at candle light ; here I endeavoured 
to frustrate old Calvin. I then went home with 
the class leader, found him to be a Calvin- 
ist, and that he was very much disquieted and 
offended. From thence I went over to York, 
and told the Yorkers that he was no Methodist, 
and that I would not preach there any more 
while he was in society. I then returned and 
went to the place where I began my circuit.— 
Here whife I rode this time round the circuit 
there were four or five added. 

Next day I went to Newtown, where I found 
brother M'D., who had moved there from the 
Jerseys. I put him in class leader over the 
black people. He held prayer meetings from 
house to house, and a revival soon took place ; 
though not without some opposition from the 
dead or lukewarm Methodists. However, I 
told him to go on. Here, while I was preach- 
ing, God laid to his helping hand, and we had a 
shout in the camp ; and the Lord laid his hand 
on an old negro man, who shook for about one 
hour, and then professed to have received the 
blessing of a pure heart : he had been in the. 
way of religion about thirty years. 

I went to Jamaica, and brother Woolsey met 



184 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

me there. I had very strange feelings, and 
retired in secret ; brother W. retired also, and 
when he came back, I have, said he, strange 
feelings that I cannot account for, unless some- 
thing great is to be done this evening ; a cer- 
tain gentleman's daughter, about seventeen or 
eighteen, a cripple, who had been brought there 
in a little waggon, also said she had strange 
feelings that she could not account for. I 
preached, and the people kept laughing and 
talking at a most wonderful wicked rate all the 
time. When I was done, I desiied brother T. 
Woolsey to give an exhortation ; but they talk- 
ed and laughed louder than ever. I sat down, 
and besought God with all the faith I had for 
help : all at once, I felt my hair rise with the 
power of God ; immediately I cried out for God 
to strike them down to the floor! With that 
they tumbled over the benches, and one over 
another, and ran and hurried out as fast as they 
could, and never stopped until they were out in 
the street. The next meeting we had there, 
the rumour had so spread, that we had all the 
grandees of the town ; it was on a day that they 
had been running their horses, and two horses 
had been killed by running one against the 
other, and the riders had liked to have shared 
the same fate ; but in a few weeks they reco- 
vered. I preached to the people, and the mob 
threw stones and broke the windows : one stone 
weighed seven pounds, but it happened to hit 
the casement, and so hurt nobody. I advised 
brother Dudley to set a watch, and to endea- 



\ 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 185 

vour to find the wicked, unprincipled sinners 
out. It may be observed, that no one possess- 
ing the principle of a man,, will ever willingly 
and deliberately disturb a religious society in its 
exercises of public or private worship. They 
are the beasts of the people, wanting of breed- 
ing, civility, and religion. May the Lord pity 
and have mercy on them. 

Next day I was conversing with brother 
Dudley on the subject, and told him we were 
in a, free country, and it would never do to be 
so served ; while I was speaking, in came the 
sheriff, being very angry about the usage we 
had received, and said he was going after the 
disturbers. He mounted his horse and off he 
went, and soon brought one of them before a 
justice of the peace, and he was fined five 
pounds. The others came and acknowledged 
their faults, and we forgave them, judging that 
the fine of the first man might suffice for the 
present as a warning to the others, and being in 
hopes that as they were humbled, they would 
do so no more. Here, notwithstanding the 
malice of wicked men and devils, we formed a 
society of nine persons, who all professed faith 
in Christ, before I left the circuit. 

I went on to my appointment at Rockaway, 
which was the time of our quarterly meeting. I 
preached on Saturday, and some others gave 
exhortations. Sunday morning we opened our 
love- feast ; and after handing the bread and 
water about, many spoke very feelingly of the 
dealings of God to their souls. After love-feast 



188 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



I preached, and the Lord laid to his helping 
hand, and sent the truth home to the hearts of 
the people with the energy of his Holy Spirit ; 
some fell to the floor, some ran for the door, 
some fell over the benches, some cried aloud for 
mercy, others were rejoicing in God their Re- 
deemer, and a number lay about the floor under 
the operation of the mighty power of God, as 
dead men and women. There being a Quaker 
preacher present, when he saw many about to 
run off, he arose and exhorted the people not to 
go nor be scared, adding, It is the power of 
God : the Lord is in this place T Blessed be 
the Lord, he has some f witnesses for Jesus 
among them, and would to God there were 
more such. I continued to speak until I was 
spent, and unable to speak any more ; I then 
stepped out of the stand, and brother P. took 
my place, and in a short space the people were 
quiet, and not one was to be heard in all the 
congregation crying to God for mercy. The 
enemies of truth then said that Abbott had raised 
the devil, but P. had laid him again. After the 
exhortation we concluded the meeting. 

Monday I went to my appointment, and 
preached to a hard-hearted people ; but I had 
liberty in speaking, and hope some good seed 
was sown. After meeting, an African asked 
me if I would go to their meeting, which con- 
sisted of Indians and Africans, who professed 
themselves to be Congregationalists : I told him 
I would ; and accordingly brother N. and I 
went. The man who had given me the invita- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 187 

tion told me that they knew nothing of our 
hymns, and requested me to tell them to sing 
their own. When we arrived at the place, we 
found them gathered ; accordingly I told them 
to sing their own hymns ; they did so, and when 
they had done, I kneeled # down to prayer, and 
some cried out, and others fell to the floor. 
When I arose, I gave an exhortation, and many 
fell to the floor ; some cried aloud for mercy, 
and others clapped their hands for joy, shout- 
ing, Glory to God ! so that the noise might 
have been heard afar off. I was as happy among 
these Indians and Africans as I could live in 
the body* God is no respecter of persons ; 
but all them who fear him and work righteous- 
ness, of every nation, are accepted of him. 
This meeting continued for some hours ; at 
length the Lord in a measure withdrew his 
Spirit, and so we parted. 

I went next day to S. Abbott's ; a number, 
both of Africans and Indians, that I had seen 
the day before at their own meeting, attended. 
I preached, and the Lord attended the word 
with power: some of the whites cried out, and 
many of the coloured people did likewise. After 
preaching, I gave them an invitation to stay in 
class ; they did so : after speaking to the whites, 
I spoke to them, and many of them testified 
clearly of the gracious dealings of God with 
their souta. This was a new place, where 
preaching had never been before I came to the 
circuit: now I had thirteen joined in class, and 
the most of them professed faith. 



188 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

Here something strange turned up, which I 
will relate. A next door neighbour was de- 
ranged in her understanding ; which was occa- 
sioned, as it was thought, by an Indian girl, 
who belonged to her, hanging herself: the 
woman thought that, it was her ill usage to the 
girl that made her hang herself. This so affect- 
ed her, that she lost her reason ; and now her 
friends were obliged to watch her continually, 
for fear she should put an end to her existence 
in the same manner that the girl had done. I 
went to see her, and strove to encourage her to 
a composure of mind, by applying the promises 
of the Gospel ; but I fear to little* purpose. 
How careful ought those to be, under whose 
care other people's children are placed, to use 
them well, and bring them up in the fear of the 
Lord, lest they rise up in judgment against them 
in the great day of accounts. 

There came to me an old Indian woman, 
who told me that she had been under sore dis- 
tress of soul ; and, said she, I went into the 
woods and prayed, on my knees, to God, that 
if he would have mercy on a poor Indian, to 
give me a sign ; and after some time I fell on 
my face and prayed on, and I saw something 
like a sun settle down close by me ; I prayed 
on, and I saw something like one sun more 
come ; I prayed on, and there came something 
like another sun, and then there were three 
great lights, like suns : I still prayed on — poor 
Indian prayed on for a sign, and all the suns 
went ^way ; and then I thought I saw so clear, 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 189 



that I could see to the end of the world ; and 
then there came such a light and glory, that I 
felt it all through my body and soul, and it filled 
me with joy, and love, and peace : now do you 
think that poor Indian is converted? I said, 
Yes, and exhorted her to be obedient and faithful, 
and told her that God would do greater things 
for her yet. She appeared to have faith in Christ. 
I felt very happy while she related this to me. 

Next day I went to Patchogue ; and though 
it was the height of harvest, as I had promised 
to preach on predestination, it brought the peo- 
ple together without regard to business. I 
preached according to promise, and we had a 
melting time, and some cried out. When I had 
done preaching, I read the rules of society, and 
made such observations on our discipline, as I 
thought necessary ; and then desired as many 
as believed the doctrine that I had delivered, to 
follow me to the house : about fifty or sixty did 
so, and fourteen joined society. Our preachers 
had preached at that place, most part of the time, 
for near four years, without being able to form 
a society. I went home with my old Antino- 
mian friend, Mr. S., who told me, that after all 
their cavils and disputes, on what they had 
heard on predestination, that it generally had 
been acknowledged by them that it was the 
truth. In that place the people had meetings 
among themselves, for twenty-three evenings : 
and it was judged, by some, that there were one 
hundred and fifty souls converted to God ; but 
this I leave to the day of eternity. 



...... -s*^.... 



190 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

Here I met with Ruth Jones : she had, I 
think, the best memory of any woman that I 
ever had met with in all my travels. She had 
joined society, was a great scripturian, and a 
strong advocate for the truth. 

I went to my next appointment, where I 
found three Baptist preachers, and one Presby- 
terian preacher. I was under great exercise, it 
being in a Baptist meeting house ; however, I 
concluded I would preach the truth as it was in 
Christ, and leave the event to God. I went in ; 
and after singing and prayer, I gave out these 
words, " The gifts and calling of God are 
without repentance." I had great liberty in 
preaching, and saw some fruits of the Spirit 
among the people ; but I observed an uneasi- 
ness among the preachers. After I had done, 
I asked the Baptist preachers, severally, if they 
would sing and pray ; but they all refused ; I 
then asked the Presbyterian, and he replied, I 
will join you : so I sung and prayed, and then 
dismissed the people. One of the Baptist 
preachers, Mr. C, said, in fifteen minutes I 
shall begin, and asked me to stay and hear him ; 
I told him that I could not, as I had twenty 
miles to ride, and so left them. Mr. Lake 
informed me that after I was gone he preached 
predestination on the highest key ; and that as 
soon as he had done, the people arose, and 
universally testified their abhorrence to the 
doctrine; and one man said, Mr. C, your' 
preaching is an abomination : I know it to be 
so in my family ; for my children are now men 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 191 

and women grown, and if I reprove them for 
sin, let it be what it will, their reply is, it was so 
ordained, and if we are to be saved, we shall 
be, do what we will; and if we are not to be 
saved, it is in vain to try : we can do nothing. 
At my next appointment I found the people 

gathered, and among them a Mr. H , a 

Presbyterian minister ; I sung, prayed, and took 
my text, and felt great liberty in speaking ; the 
power of the Lord arrested one sinner, so that 
she cried out for mercy. After I had done 
preaching, and before I had time to dismiss the 
people, Mr. H. arose and said, Is this meeting 
done ? I said yes ; with that he said, You are 
an old deceiver, you have preached false doc- 
trine, and you are a liar ; for you have preached 
that a man may live without sin, but I say no 
man can, and he that says he is without sin 
deceives himself, and is a liar. I let him go 
on, while I was folding down several leaves of 
Scripture, on sundry texts, in order to support 
what I had advanced ; when he had done, I 
arose, and at that instant he sprung for the door 
and hasted away ; the man of the house went 
after him near one hundred yards, saying, come 
back, Mr. H., but all to no purpose, for he still 
went on without paying the least regard to his 
being called. However, as soon as he was 
gone an elder took up the matter, but soon found 
himself at a loss ; but in order to make the best 
of the business, one of his friends replied, Mr. 
S. is not prepared at present for argument. 
What then, said I, does he come here for? and 



192 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



why does he take the field of battle without 
arms? A man should always be armed that 
means to fight ; and to begin a battle without 
being prepared for the attack, discovers great 
folly. Another man standing by, who was in- 
toxicated, said, (clapping his hand upon his 
breast,) I have that within me that cannot sin ! 
I then replied, I smell a stink of liquor ! Liquor ! 
said he, I have not drank one drop of rum to- 
day ; but, said another by-stander, such a 
neighbour tapped a hogshead of cider to-day. 
So it appeared that he was quite drunk on cider 
instead of rum, which is one and the same 
abomination in the sight of God. Yet, poor 
man, his principles led him to boast of something 
within him that could not sin ; though he could 
get drunk. Can a man be an inward saint and 
an outward sinner 1 Can he serve God in his 
heart by faith, while he serves the devil out- 
wardly in his life 1 Once a child of God, always 
such, do what they will ? May the Lord pity all 
those who are under such dangerous delusions ! 
They soon were out of the door, disputing, until 
they gave each other the lie ; and I was afraid 
there would be blood spilt among them : for one 
man swore that he would lose every drop in his 
body for the doctrine that he had that day heard ; 
but it ended in words, without blows, for which 
I was thankful ; I then left them, and went with 

Mr. W , who told me he had set twenty-five 

years under Mr. H , and never knew before 

what principles he held ; but, said he, I am now 
done with him ; and soon after he joined society. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 193 



I went to his brother T. W *s, where I tar- 
ried all night. I went next morning to brother 
Hobbs\ Next day was our quarterly meeting, 
and a great many people came out ; here I met 
brother Whatcoat and brother Morrell ; one of 
them preached and the other exhorted. Next 
day brother Whatcoat opened the love-feast; 
and after the bread and water were handed 
round, divers young converts spoke very feel- 
ingly of the goodness of God, and his dealings 
with their souls ; we had a precious time. 
There was a large congregation, and one of our 
brethren preached, and the other gave an ex- 
hortation : we had a solemn, and I trust, a 
profitable time to many souls. 

I then set out for conference. While I 
travelled that circuit, I took between eighty and 
ninety members into society. May the Lord 
record their names in the Lamb's book of life, 
and save them in the day of eternity ! Amen. 

I attended York conference, where, I trust, 
the affairs of the Church were settled in brotherly 
love. The bishop observed that he never had 
heard so many speak of sanctification in this 
place before ; may the Lord increase their 
number ! I told the bishop that it had been 
about nine years aince I was round the Salem 
circuit to see my children in the Gospel, and 
that I desired to go there : he replied, You may 
go and ride there this winter. Accordingly, I 
set out for Philadelphia, on my way to my 
circuit ; when I arrived in the city, the bishop 
told me that I must preach in the evening. 
13 



194 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



Accordingly, I attended the church in Fourth- 
street, where, after singing, I kneeled and 
prayed, but did not attempt to take a text or 
preach ; for, under prayer, the power of the 
Lord descended on the people in such a manner, 
that some fell to the floor under the operation 
thereof ; the cry of mourners,, and the joyful 
acclamations of the Christians, were so great 
that I could not be heard. Many cried aloud, 
and among them was brother Cann, one of our 
preachers, who was wonderfully overcome by 
the Divine power : when he came to, he step- 
ped into the desk, and publicly acknowledged 
that he had ever been an enemy to people's 
crying aloud, or making such a noise in public 
worship, but that he then could not help it 
himself; that he could no more refrain from 
crying aloud, than he could from dying, if God 
were to send the messenger of death to arrest 
his body. Brother M'Claskey went through 
the house among the mourners, praying for and 
admonishing all that came in his way, and re- 
quested me to do the same ; accordingly, I left 
the pulpit, without attempting to preach, and 
followed his example. Our meeting continued 
until near eleven o'clock. No doubt that 
meeting is well remembered by many of our 
friends in Philadelphia : 0, may its good effects 
be seen in eternity. It was a gracious time to 
many souls ; several professed justification y 
and some sanctification. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 195 
SALEM CIRCUIT. 

After I left the city, I took my circuit at 
brother Clark's, about eleven miles above Sa- 
lem, where I preached, and the Lord attended 
the word with power ; one sinner trembled, 
every joint in him, and I expected that he would 
have fallen to the floor ; but he fled out of the 
house with trembling and astonishment. I met 
class, and had a precious time among my old 
friends. 

I went to my next appointment, in Hains- 
neck, where I saw some fruits of the Spirit, 
under the word. I met class, and had a pre- 
cious time. 

On Sunday I went to Penns-neck meeting 
house, where I met with a large congregation, 
consisting of my old friends and children in 
the Gospel. There the Lord manifested his 
presence among us, to the joy of many souls ; 
for my own part, if the Lord had not withheld 
his hand, I could not have preached. In class 
several were so lost in the ocean of love, that 
they could not speak : such a melting time I 
had seldom seen. 

In the afternoon I preached at Salem, to a 
large congregation, and felt freedom in deliver- 
ing the word ; I met class, and had a peaceable 
waiting before God. 

I preached at brother S 's, met class, 

and found they had grown cold in religion, and 
to the things of God. May the Spirit of the 
eternal God stir them up to more diligence ! 

At the widow W *s I had a crowded 



196 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

house, and the Lord attended the word with 
power, and several appeared much affected. 
In class, I pressed sanctification, or holiness of 
heart, on them ; we had a comfortable waiting, and 
our souls were refreshed with the love of God. 

I went to brother Swing's, and preached 
to a congregation mostly Presbyterians ; and 
although I saw but little fruit, yet I felt a free- 
dom in speaking ; and hope it will not be alto- 
gether labour lost. In class, several spoke 
feelingly of the Lord's dealings with their souls. 

I went to brother T 's, who informed me 

that they had not had a preacher for eighteen 
months, although they had a class of fifteen or 
sixteen members. We had a crowded house ; 
I spoke with freedom*, and the Lord was pre- 
sent among us, to the joy of many souls ; in 
class we had a melting time. 

Next day, as the people had but little notice 
of my coming, I had a small congregation ; 
however, I preached to them, and hope that 
some good was done : there we had no class. 

I lodged at Mrs. W 's, and in the morning 

they set me over Morris river, and I went to 
the church, where I met a large congregation, 
to whom I preached ; the Lord m?de bare his 
arm, and many, both saints and sinners, cried 
aloud. There I met many of my dear old 
friends, whom I had not seen for about nine 
years ; divers of them were as happy as they 
could live. I remembered several of them, who 
had professed sanctification when I was among 
them in years past ; some had retained it, but 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 197 



others had, in a measure, lost the witness. 
Blessed be the Lord, for what he has done, and 
is still doing, for the inhabitants of Morris river. 
At brother Barlow Williams's they had but 
little notice of my coming : however, I spoke to 
the few who were present, and met class ; several 
spoke freely, and appeared in a measure happy. 

Next day, at Mrs. H 's I spoke with 

great liberty ; many wept, and some cried aloud. 
I met class, and we had a shout in the camp of 
Jesus ; some fell on the floor, and one woman 
gave us an exhortation : it was a good day to 
many souls. 

I went to brother GofPs, where we had a 
good time. I impressed sanctification on them 
with all the power and ability that God had 
given me. There I met with many of my old 
friends, and was happy to find that God had 
not only preserved them steadfast in the faith, 
but had added many to the Church. 

I went to Esquire Cresey's on Cape May. 
There I found they had been without a shep- 
herd for about eighteen months. They had not 
much notice of my coming ; however I preached 
to the few who met. The members of society, 
present, still professed faith, and spoke freely of 
the dealings of God with their souls ; yet acknow- 
ledged great deadness for want of preaching. 

I went next to brother G 's. I found, 

since I had been there last, that the Univer- 
salists had made a great rent in the Baptist 
Church ; several of them came out to hear me, 
and I felt much freedom in declaring the truth 



198 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



of God unto them, though I saw but little or no 
fruit of the Spirit ; as we had no class, I dis- 
missed the people. A Baptist man tarried be- 
hind, and said to me, I do not know what to do, 
for my neighbours were formerly Baptists, and 
a praying people ; but since they have turned 
Universalians, I do not know one of them that 
is a praying person. I told him I could give 
him no better advice than old Joshua's resolu- 
tion, Let others do as they may, to be sure and 
serve God himself. We spent some time to 
satisfaction, in conversing on the things of God. 

I preached in a Baptist meeting house, on 
the upper end of the Cape, but did not feel that 
liberty in speaking which I generally had ; 
owing, I believe, to a feeling sense of a spirit 
of contention among them. After preaching, 
the people began to dispute about the pews ; 
one said he had hired this, another that pew ; 
and that such and such should not sit in them, j 
I told them, that I had nothing to do in the 
matter, for I was only on sufferance myself, and 
therefore not a suitable person to interfere in, 
or to settle a matter of that nature. I met the 
class, and found them, likewise, all in confusion 
about a poor person, that was half Indian ; and 
some of them, having more pride than religion, j 
could not stoop to sit in class with him ; and to i 
cloak the matter a little, they had raised several 
objections against him, and without supporting 
any thing, insisted on my expelling him ; which 
I refused to do, as there appeared a good tes- j 
timony in his favour, and that he was of an 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 199 

orderly life and conversation : at which, two of 
them determined to withdraw from society, and 
desired me to cross their names off the class 
paper ; I did so, and thus the matter ended. 

I went to W. T 's, and preached with 

liberty to a small congregation ; I met the class, 
and there appeared but little life or power among 
them. I exhorted them to seek for more reli- 
gion, and. to press forward for sanctiflcation. 

At Tuckehoe meeting house, I had a large 
congregation, to whom I preached with liberty ; 
I met class, and we had a melting time ; many 
spoke feelingly, and I pressed sanctiflcation on 
them. 

At my next appointment I found a poor, but 
a blessed people ; there the Lord laid to his 
helping hand, and attended the word with 
power ; some cried out, some fell down, and 
others clapped their hands and shouted for joy : 
we had a shout of praise in the camp of Jesus. 
I met class, pressed them to seek sanctiflca- 
tion, and was uncommonly joyful at seeing how 
happy those dear people were. 

I then went to brother E. Budd's, where the 
Lord attended the word with power ; many 
cried out, and some fell to the floor. I met 
class, or rather attempted to meet it, for I had 
not spoken to above two or three before the 
Lord met them in such power that several fell 
to the floor, and we had the shout of a king in 
the camp — " And many shouted aloud for joy : 
for the people shouted with a loud shout, and 
the noise was heard afar off," Ezra, chap, iii, 



200 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

ver. 12, 13. This meeting continued from 
eleven o'clock until night. 

I then went to brother A 's, in Deerfield, 

and preached in the evening to a hard-hearted 
set ; however, I was enabled to declare the 
counsel of God, although I did not feel that 
freedom that I usually felt. Some testified of 
the goodness of God to their souls in class. 

On Sunday, I preached with freedom in 
Broadneck meeting house ; some wept. In the 
afternoon I went to Murphey's church, in Pitts- 
grove, where I met a large congregation. God 
attended the word with power, and we had a 
precious time in class. 

Monday I went to Malago, a new place, and 
preached ; there I saw some fruit of the Spirit. 

Next day I went to brother C 's, and 

preached to a clever congregation ; the power 
of the Lord attended the word. I met the 
society, and had a precious time among them. 

At Hains-neck we had a crowded house, 
and the Lord attended the truth with power; 
some fell on the floor. I met class, and seve- 
ral joined society. 

I then went to brother Peddrick's, in lower 
Penns-neck. There the Lord attended the 
word with the energy of his Spirit; several 
cried aloud for mercy. I met class ; one sinner 
fell, under the power of God, to the floor. Se- 
veral prayers were put up for him, and the Lord 
in his mercy set his soul at liberty, whereby he 
was enabled to rejoice in redeeming love. 
Crlory to the name of Christ. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 201 

On Sunday I preached in Penns-neck meet- 
ing house. There the Lord attended the word 
with power, and several cried out for mercy. 
After preaching, I invited the mourners to stay 
in class ; they did so, and in class the Lord laid 
to his helping hand, and his power was present 
to the joy of many souls : several were set at 
liberty to praise him as a sin-pardoning God, 
and one professed sanctification. It was a day 
that will never be forgotten in time or eternity 
by many souls. Here I met with friend J. 
Ffirth, who asked me if I would preach in upper 
Penns-neck, if he could procure a place and 
give me notice? I told him I would. Then 
we went on for Salem, in order to attend my 
afternoon appointment. There I found a large 
congregation ; but being rather late by reason 
of our meeting continuing longer than usual in 
the neck, my son David was preaching to them, 
on the same text that I had spoken from in the 
morning, viz. " Quench not the Spirit." After 
he had done I gave an exhortation, and we had 
a peaceable waiting before God. I went on to 
my next appointment, where I had a clever con- 
gregation, and the Lord attended the word with 
power. Two fell to the floor, and we had a 
little shout in the camp of Jesus. I met class, 
and about twelve joined, and we had a precious 
time. After meeting a young man said to me, 
Father Abbott, what shall I do ? I have been 
in full stretch for sanctification ; I have left 
nothing undone that I could do ; I have prayed 
almost all night on my knees for the blessing \ 



202 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

and sometimes it appeared as if I were just going 
to receive it ; but now it seems farther from me, 
and as if I should never receive it at all. I said, 
I believe you are in the right way, and let us 
fervently pray for the blessing, and I believe 
that God will give it unto you before we rise. 
We kneeled down, and he soon fell on the floor, 
as one dead, under the mighty power of God ; 
his blood appeared stagnated, and he lay some 
time in this state, while we were made partakers 
of Divine blessings. When he came to, he 
praised God, and testified that he had given him 
a clean heart. Brother S. invited him to tarry 
all night ; but he said that he would go home 
and tell the good news to his parents, and so 
set out : he had fifteen miles to walk. He was 
soon after this called to the work of the Lord, 
and took the field as a travelling preacher. 

At my next appointment I found a crowded 
house, to whom I preached, and the Lord at- 
tended the truth with the energy of his Spirit ; 
several cried out, being cut to the heart, under 
a sense of their depraved and fallen state. In 
class I impressed sanctification on them, and 
the power of the Lord fell on sister W., who, 
with several others, received this inestimable 
blessing. A Presbyterian, hearing the cry of 
mourners, came to the door, and the power of 
the Lord reached his heart, so that he fell into 
the house, and was renewed in God's love in 
this meeting ; he had known what religion was 
previous to this, but then he got a fresh spring. 
He and his wife both joined society. I spent 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 203 

the evening with sister W. in great satisfaction, 
conversing on the things of God. 

Next day I went to brother S 's, at New 

England-town, where I found a crowded house, 
chiefly Presbyterians, to whom I preached from 
Romans viii, 30, " Whom he did predestinate, 
them he also called," &c, and hope it was not 
labour lost. 

I went to my next appointment, about nine 
or ten miles distant, where I found several of 
the New England-town Presbyterians and Bap- 
tists who had followed me thither, to whom I 
preached upon predestination, and they gave 
great attention. When I had concluded, a young 
man arose and told his experience. I had seen 
him in my last round, and he then told me that 
he was in great distress, and said he was afraid 
that he should be lost, for that he saw no way 
for his escape. I then applied the promises of 
the Gospel, and advised him to fly to Christ, and 
betake himself to prayer, for, said I, you have 
spent many a day and night in the service of the 
devil, and now be determined to spend the 
remainder of your time in the service of God. 
He at that time left me without making any 
reply whether he wculd or not. Being a saw- 
yer, he went to his mill and set her to work, but 
his mind being exceedingly agitated, he said to 
himself, What shall it profit me if I should gain 
the whole world and lose my own soul ? I will 
take the old man's advice. So he shut down 
his mill and retired into the swamp, and took 
himself to prayer for about the space of three 



204 LIFE OP BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

hours — sometimes on his knees, and sometimes 
on his face, until the Lord spoke peace to his 
soul. Now, said he, I am as happy as I can 
live ; and exhorted all to seek for the blessing. 
1 desired the people to tarry while I read our 
articles of faith, and also their own. They all 
sat down and I read our own first, and then I 
proceeded to read theirs ; they all sat still until 
I came unto the third article, which spoke on this 
wise in substance : God, for the purpose of his 
own glory, foreordained whatsoever comes to 
pass, and predestinated such a certain number, 
both men and angels, for eternal life, and the 
others he passed by, and left them to eternal 
damnation ; and that the number was so certain 
and definite, that one could not either be added 
or diminished. At reading this they arose and 
left the house. I met class and had a precious 
time. There were a number added to the 
Church at this place while I rode the circuit. 

At my next appointment I tore up Calvinism. 
I had great liberty in speaking, and many wept. 
After preaching I read our articles, it being a 
new place, and then asked if any had a desire 
to join society : there were nine who joined. 
I tarried that night at Mrs. Hand's. 

Next day I went to Morris river church, and 
had a large congregation ; there the Lord 
attended the word with power ; his people 
seemed lost in the ocean of redeeming love, 
and several fell to the floor, and many praised 
God ; it was a day of great power to many 
souls. In class many of the dear people were 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 205 



so happy that they could not speak. We had 
precious times generally at that place while I 
rode the circuit. 

I went to the widow H 's, and we had a 

crowded house. I preached with liberty, and 
God attended the word with power ; many wept, 
and some cried out ; we had a small shout in 
the camp. In class we had a powerful time ; 
a woman seemed lost in the ocean of love, clap- 
ping her hands, shouting glory to God and 
praises to his holy name ! We had a revival, 
and I formed the class in this place : may the 
Lord record their names in the Lamb's book 
of life! 

At Tuckehoe we had a crowded house. I did 
not expect ever to see them again on this side 
of great eternity.* While we were singing, — 

Come, ye that love the Lord, 
And let your joys be known ; 
Join in a song of sweet accord, 
While ye surround the throne — 

the power of the Lord fell on me in such a 
manner, that I could neither sing nor give out 
the hymn until the Lord withheld his Spirit a 
little, which ran through the house with power. 
I then prayed, and if ever I preached with life, 
liberty, and power, I did that day. I met class, 
and we had a precious time : the children of 
God seemed lost in the ocean of redeeming 
grace ; some lay on the floor, under the mighty 
power of God. 

* This proved to be the case, for he never had another 
opportunity cf visiting them. 



206 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



I went to my next appointment, where I found 
the house crowded. We had a shout in the 
camp of Jesus ; two old sinners were cut to the 
heart, and got their souls converted, and joined 
society. In class we had a wonderful time ; 
our meeting lasted for several hours ; a number 
lay on the floor, under the mighty power of 
God, and several professed sanctification. This 
is strange work in the eyes of the carnal heart ; 
but glory to God, we know in whom we have 
believed ! 44 Am I a God at hand, saith the 
Lord, and not a God afar off? Do not I fill 
heaven and earth?" Jer. xxiii, 23, 24. I went 
home with brother Hesler. 

I next preached at brother B 's. Here 

the Lord attended his word with power ; one 
sinner kneeled, first on one knee and then on 
the other, and soon fell on the floor and cried 
aloud for mercy : I met the class, and we had 
a shout in the camp ; many prayed aloud, others 
shouted for joy, and the 44 noise was heard afar 
off." Several professed sanctification, among 

whom were brother B 's son Wesley, and 

his daughter. The sort soon after took the 
field as a labourer in the Lord's vineyard. May 
he ever be faithful to the gift of Divine grace 
received ! 

We held quarterly meeting at Murphey's 
church. Here I met with brother Merick, our 
presiding elder, and brother Cann, who rode on 
the Bethel circuit. On Saturday, brother Cann 
preached with life and power in the demonstra- 
tion of the Spirit ; brother M. and myself gave 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT* 207 

exhortations ; we had a profitable waiting on 
the Lord. On Sunday morning brother M. 
opened the love-feast : after handing about the 
bread and water, the people began to speak 
very feelingly, and the power of the Lord came 
down among them : many cried aloud, and others 
fell to the floor under the mighty power of God. 
Some cried aloud for mercy, and some shouted 
for joy — joy indeed to see sinners flocking home 
to God, as doves to the loidow; others prayed 
aloud, so that we had the shout of a king in the 
camp, and the power of the Lord was present 
to heal those who were wounded by .the Spirit 
of the eternal God : for the Lord killeih and 
maketh alive. By this mighty power sinners 
were convinced of their undone state, without 
a Redeemer, and souls were converted, where- 
by they were enabled to shout redeeming love 
to God and the Lamb : some professed sancti- 
fication. Thus the work went on until time 
for public preaching, so that the sacrament 
could not be administered during that space of 
time. At eleven o'clock it was judged best to 
open the doors : many people were without, 
waiting for admittance. After a short interval, 
public worship began, and brother Merick 
preached, and after him several exhortations 
were given, and Divine power attended the 
word : several were reached to the heart, and 
one or two ungodly sinners were so powerfully 
struck, that they were helped off by their un- 
godly associates, being so wrought on that they 
were unable to go themselves without their 



208 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

help ; and many of the children of God were 
built up in their most holy faith, for which my 
soul adores the God and rock of our salvation. 

An appointment had been made in upper 
Penns-neck by John Ffirth, at the house of John 
Stremple, a neighbourhood famous for vice and 
immorality, where they had no regular preach- 
ing nearer than ten or twelve miles, except now 
and then a few words in a small Quaker meet- 
ing, where very few of the vulgar ever attended. 
I was informed that when this appointment was 
made, there were some present who were nearly 
or quite men and women grown r who had 
scarcely ever heard a Gospel sermon in all their 
lives. When the day came J- F» met me at 
Murphey's church, agreeably to a former ap- 
pointment, and gave me notice thereof; accord- 
ingly we set off, and on my way thither my 
mind was solemnly impressed with these words* 
" 1 have a message from God unto thee," Judg. 
iii, 20. We went to William Barber's, in up- 
per Penns-neck, where we dined. He used us 
kindly, and gave us information that we might 
expect some interruption from some dissolute 
people ; for there had been some talk of run- 
ning horses on the public highway which led 
through the man's land, where the meeting had 
been appointed, and not far from his house, and 
to be at the same hour of the meeting; but this 
fell through. When we arrived at the pface, 
we found a large congregation assembled ; for 
in consequence of the novelty of a Methodist 
meeting, the talk of an intended interruption, 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT, 209 

&c, &c, the people had generally got together. 
When we went into the house, as many people 
followed us as could well crowd in, and stand 
on their feet ; I took my stand near the door, 
there being a considerable number outside. — 
Two men followed us into the house, who ap- 
peared ill disposed ; one of them took his stand 
near the middle of the house, where he remained 
during the meeting without offering any disturb- 
ance ; the other stood about three feet from the 
door, with a truncheon in his hand about two feet 
long, which he held by the small end ; three or 
four others remained outside the door with the 
like weapons in their hands. I sung, and kneeled 
down to pray before either of them offered any 
interruption ; but when I besought God to visit 
that part of his vineyard, and to make it as 
famous for virtue as it had been for vice, one" 
of them replied, That it was as good already as 
any other part he had known ; and made use of 
several other expressions during the time of 
prayer. When I had done prayer, I asked him 
if he knew that he had violated the laws of the 
land, and if put in force, that he had forfeited 
twenty pounds, and must either give security 
for his future good behaviour, or go to jail. I 
then charged him at his peril to desist and give 
no farther interrruption ; he made several replies, 
and appeared very vicious. Mrs. Hews, an 
old Quaker woman, who sat just at my elbow, 
seeing the man's conduct, and hearing what 
had passed, bade me not be afraid : and put me 
in mind of the sufferings which their friends had 
U 



210 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

underwent for the cause of God. I was truly 
glad to find her an advocate for Jesus ; though 
I bless God I did not feel the fear of man. I 
proceeded, and gave out my text, " I have a 
message from God unto thee," Judges hi, 20. 
I had not spoken long before he began again to 
interrupt me, raising himself on his toes to see 
if the others were at hand ; but the door being 
surrounded by a number of the most respect- 
able inhabitants, those club gentry were either 
ashamed or afraid, so that they kept their dis- 
tance. I soon found that it would not answer 
to dispute, and therefore, without any regard to 
what he was saying, I began to pour out the 
terrors of the law upon him, in the most awful 
manner I was capable of. I soon saw his coun- 
tenance change, and he cried out, Is it me, sir, 
you mean? Yes, said I, you are the very man, 
and "I have a message from God unto you," 
which I delivered in plain terms, and began to 
pray for him : he quickly discovered a disposi- 
tion to get out of the house ; but this he could 
not hastily do, the crowd was so great in the 
door. His confusion was great, and he cried 
out, Do not judge ! do not judge ! At length 
he got out, and hallooed Amen, several times ; 
but he soon gave that up. A Quaker gentle- 
man, being at the door, said to him as he went 
out, Thou hast met with thy match. I have 
since understood that he had anchored his ves- 
sel in the Delaware, two or three miles distant, 
in order to attend this meeting ; and had sworn 
lhat he never meant to weigh anchor again until 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 211 

he had driven every Methodist out of the neck. 
While I was praying for him, God convinced a 
woman of sin, who soon after got her soul con- 
verted, and with her husband joined society. 
Blessed be God, notwithstanding all the malice 
of men and devils, we had a solemn and profit- 
able time to many souls, who were broken into 
tenderness. Soon after a society was formed, 
and they became a precious people. 

I left the circuit after six months, having re- 
ceived eighty-five members into society, and 
had seen about fifty sanctified by the mighty 
power and grace of God, and many others that 
had been justified. There was a great revival 
among the classes. May the Lord be mindful 
of them, and preserve them in his holy fear. 

TRENTON CIRCUIT. 

I left Salem after the quarterly meeting, in 
order to travel Trenton circuit, and on my way 
thither attended the quarterly meeting at Bethel : 
after preaching and exhortation on Saturday, 
we adjourned our meeting until Sunday morn- 
ing. Next morning brother Merick opened the 
love-feast, and the people began to speak their 
experiences very feelingly. After several had 
spoken, and a few exhortations had been given, 
I arose and exhorted them to look for sanc- 
tification, for now was the day of God's power : 
and the power of the Lord fell on them in 
such a manner that they fell to the floor all 
through the house, up stairs and down, so that 
speaking experiences was now at an end, for 



212 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

many shouted praises to God, while others 
cried aloud for mercy. I looked round me up 
stairs, and I saw a vacancy, although the house 
was crowded, so I went up and found a number 
of them lying all in a heap. I went to them 
and found they were mourners ; I exhorted 
them to cry earnestly to God for mercy, and 
spare not : they did so. I and three or four 
others prayed for them, and the Lord set all 
their souls at liberty to rejoice in his love. I 
turned round, and there lay two others, strug- 
gling as in the agonies of death. I kneeled and 
prayed, and several others did the same, and 
the Lord spoke peace to their souls. I looked, 
and by those I saw another lay in like manner ; 
prayer was put up in his behalf. I went to 
several others in like manner ; but they not 
being set at liberty I went down stairs, and 
found that the slain and wounded lay all through 
the house. I found numbers, both men and 
women, dispersed through the congregation. 
By this time we concluded it was time for pub- 
lic service to begin ; but it was agreed that the 
doors should not be opened, and therefore to 
dispense with public preaching. This meeting 
began at nine o'clock, and continued until sun 
about two hours high. Some were justified, 
and others sanctified ; but what number of 
either will be a secret until the day of eternity. 

From Bethel we went to Crosswicks quarter- 
ly meeting, in Burlington circuit. Saturday, 
we had preaching, and some exhortations — 
settled our temporal affairs and made ready for 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 21& 

the approaching Sabbath. I went home with 
brother Lovel, where we continued singing and 
praying until about eleven o'clock in the even- 
ing ; during which time two souls were justi- 
fied, and two sanctified. Next day our love- 
feast began ; but the people did not speak so 
lively as I could have wished. After love-feast, 
I preached, and the Lord was precious to some 
souls : then brother Lovel gave an exhortation, 
and one found Him of whom Moses and the 
prophets wrote ; and several cried and wept. 

I went from Crosswicks to Trenton quarterly 
meeting : after preaching and exhortation, on 
the Saturday, we dismissed the congregation ; 
and the preachers, stewards, leaders, &c, set- 
tled the temporal concerns of the circuit. 

Next day brother Merick opened the love- 
feast, and many spoke very feelingly. One 
young man was so wrought upon that he trem- 
bled every joint in him to that degree he shook 
the bench on which he sat. I then looked 
round, and saw four or five lying on the floor : 
I left the pulpit and went to them, and prayed 
for them : we had a precious time. After our 

love-feast ended, brother G preached, and 

brother M. gave an exhortation : but there did 
not appear any move among the people. 

Next day I took my circuit and went to 

brother C 's where we had a crowded 

house, and among them a Baptist preacher. 
Here I tore up Calvinism with all my power. 
I met class, and we had a precious time ; some 
seemed lost in the ocean of redeeming love. 



214 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

One woman, who had been sanctified some 
years before, when I was at this place, was 
now as happy as she could live, having never 
lost the witness from that time to the present. 

I went to another appointment and preached 
with life and power ; and God attended the 
word with the energy of his Spirit. Several 
fell to the floor, and others ran out of the house ; 
some professed sanctification, and others ex- 
perienced justification, under preaching. I 
met class, and we had a peaceable waiting 
before the Lord. After meeting I went to 
brother Pyle's. 

Next day I had a very small congregation 
of about six or seven persons, and found them 
very dead, with regard to religion. But at my 
next appointment I preached to a large congre- 
gation in Monmouth meeting house, where I 
endeavoured to make old Calvinism tremble. 
After preaching I met class, and found them 
very dull. 

My next appointment was at Squankum, 
where I had a large congregation. Here a 
man, who had been for a long time under afflic- 
tion, was brought to meeting on a bed in a 
wagon, being fully persuaded in his mind that 
if he could get to this meeting, and hear old 
Abbott preach, the Lord would convert his 
soul : he lay on the bed, and cried and prayed 
all the time of preaching* I met class, and 
when I spoke to him, he told me his exercise, 
and his belief that God would set his soul at 
liberty. I then said, Let us pray — we kneeled 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 215 

down and prayed, and according to his faith, so 
it was, for the Lord set his soul at liberty from 
sin and guilt. 

At my next appointment I preached, and we 
had a peaceable waiting before God. I met 
class, and we had a precious season among 
them ; a few joined society. 

Our quarterly meeting was held at Long 
Branch. On the Saturday there appeared some 
little move among the people ; on Sunday 
morning our love-feast commenced, and se- 
veral spoke very feelingly : I arose and gave 
them an exhortation, and the Lord lay to his 
helping hand, and sent the word with energy, 
like a sharp two-edged sivord, to their hearts : 
and they fell before the Lord, like Dagon be- 
fore the ark, or like men slain in battle. Speak- 
ing their experiences was now at an end ; the 
place was rilled with acclamations of prayer 
and praise ; some crying for mercy, others for 
clean hearts, and others praising God for his 
glorious power and grace : several professed 
sanctification, and others justification. We 
had a blessed time, and our meeting ended in 
great harmony. 

I desired the people to give out preaching for 
me at Shrewsbury, a town in which the Qua- 
kers, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Episcopa- 
lians, each had a house of public worship ; but 
they all, as with one accord, refused me the 
liberty of their houses. I then directed that it 
should be given out for me to preach in the 
street, which was done. When I came to the 



216 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



place, I found a large congregation ; some 
judged that there were five hundred people pre- 
sent. I preached with great liberty ; they gave 
great attention ; God attended the word with 
power, and many tears were shed, although in 
the street. Street preaching, or preaching in 
the fields and woods, is often made the most 
successful. 

I went home with brother M. and next day 
preached to a crowded house with liberty : the 
power of the Lord arrested a young Quaker, 
and he fell to the floor as if he had been shot : 
his mother being present, cried out, My son is 
dead ! my son is dead ! I replied, Mammy, 
your son is not dead ; look to yourself, mammy, 
your son is not dead ; and in a few minutes we 
had a number slain before the Lord. An old 
Quaker man stood with tears in his eyes ; I 
said to him, Daddy, look to yourself; this was 
the way with you, when you had the life and 
power of God among you. Read SewePs His- 
tory of the People called Quakers, and you will 
find there, that John Audland, a young man, 
was preaching in a field near Bristol, and the 
people fell to the ground before him, and cried 
out under the mighty power of God. The man 
of the house brought the book, and read the 
passage before the congregation, and he then 
acknowledged it to be the work of the Lord. 
I attempted to meet the class, but eiid not speak 
to above two or three, when the people fell 
before the Lord, as men slain in battle, and we 
had the shout of a king in the camp of J esus : 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 217 

two or three professed that God had sanctified 
their souls. The young Quaker and several 
others, professed that God had set their souls 
at liberty ; several joined society, and we had 
a precious time. When I went on that circuit 
there were about six or seven in society at that 
place, and when I left it there were about 
thirty-six, six or seven of whom had been 
Quakers. At this place our meetings were 
generally so powerful that I never regularly 
met the class during the time I was on the cir- 
cuit — for we always had the shout of a king in 
the camp of Jesus — Glory to God ! 

I preached at the falls : the man of the house 
was a Methodist, and the woman a Presbyterian. 
We had a peaceable waiting before God. I 
met class, and we had a very powerful time. 
I impressed the doctrine of sanctification on 
them ; two young women fell to the floor, and 
one young man fell backward off the bench, 
and made such a strange noise that he fright- 
ened the wicked all into a huddle in a corner, for 
as he lay near the door, they had no way to make 
their escape. Both the girls professed sanctifica- 
tion, and the young man professed to be justified. 

I visited New-Brunswick, where we had no 
society ; but God raised up one of nine mem- 
bers while I remained on the circuit. May the 
Lord increase their number ! I preached also 
at Princeton, where I endeavoured to pull old 
Calvin's errors to pieces. There the Lord 
raised up a society of nine persons more* 
before I left the circuit. Glory to God I 



218 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



Our quarterly meeting was held at brother 

H 's. Brother G. preached, and brother 

M. gave an exhortation. In our love-feast our 
friends spoke very feelingly : several testified 
that God had sanctified their souls while I had 
been on the circuit, and a number of others, 
that God had justified them freely. After love- 
feast, finding that the congregation was large, 
we thought it best to retire to the woods, where 
brother G. stood in a wagon and preached to 
the people : after him, brother M. gave an ex- 
hortation ; when he had done, I arose and gave 
another, and the Lord laid to his helping hand 
and slew eight or ten, who fell to the earth 
under the mighty power of God : but my 
strength being exhausted, and no one speaking 
after me, the meeting broke up. 

We had many blessed times while I rode 
that circuit, which was about six months.* 

* Mr. Abbott left the Jerseys about the last of Sep- 
tember, 1793, and the compiler finds by the minutes for 
that year, that he was appointed to labour in the Cecil 
circuit, state of Maryland ; but how long he laboured 
there, the compiler is not able to determine, from any 
thing that appears in the manuscripts. In the minutes 
of the year 1794, he likewise stands in the Cecil circuit, 
but from the manuscript we find that he laboured on 
Kent circuit ; but how long he laboured there appears 
uncertain. He returned home, unable to travel, about 
the last of May, or the first of June, 1795. It appears 
that he spent the most, if not all, of his time during those 
years, when his health permitted, on the above circuits. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 219 



1 EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND. 

Since I have been a preacher I have kept an 
account of two hundred and twenty-four souls 
that I have seen sanctified. When I rode Cecil 
circuit, I saw thirty sanctified, and forty-three 
justified. When I was moved to Kent circuit, 
the Lord began to work powerfully. In twelve 
weeks God sanctified about fifty, and justified 
many. For fifteen meetings in succession 
some were either justified or sanctified. We 
had shout after shout, and the Lord slew them 
like men slain in battle.* 

May 10th, 1794, I met class, and had a 
melting time : at night the Lord was with us 
of a truth : the slain lay before him. 

Sunday, 11th, I had a melting time in the 
morning, and in the afternoon, a peaceable 
waiting before the Lord. At night, the Lord 
lay to his helping hand, and we had a shout in 
the camp, so that the noise might be heard a 
great way off : I took cold, and was very unwell 
for some days. 

Thursday, 15th, I met class and had a melt- 
ing time. At night the Lord opened the 

* The compiler is sorry that the manuscripts do not 
contain a more minute account of the labours of Mr. 
Abbott, in those places. There can be no doubt but 
many things must have occurred in that period wor- 
thy of note, as it contains his labours from September, 
1793, until May, 1794. 

It may be observed, that from this time Mr. Abbott 
has been more particular in giving dates, than in any 
other parts of his labours, 



220 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

windows of heaven, and from the skies poured 
down righteousness, so that the people fell before 
him, and the cries of the wounded were great. 

Saturday, 17th, I went to brother R — — 's to 
preach; but being unwell, I got brother D. 
Abbott to preach. I met the class, and God 
poured out his Spirit in such a manner, that 
both saint and sinner wept. 

Sunday, 18th, I preached, and God poured 
out his Spirit in such a manner that they fell 
before him like men slain in battle. This 
alarmed the wicked, and they fled for the door ; 
but God was too strong for some of them, who 
were left behind weeping for their sins. I was 
obliged to leave the slain, in order to attend my 
afternoon appointment, where I met a large 
congregation, to whom I preached, and had a 
peaceable waiting upon the Lord. After 
preaching, a.t the Lord's table we had a melting 
time : I went home with brother M'C . 

Next day I went to Chester-town, and at 
night held a prayer meeting. We had a power- 
ful time, and one soul was set at liberty. 

Tuesday, 20th, I rode to brother C 's, 

and preached to a hard-hearted people. 

Next day I preached at brother Miller's, and 
the Lord was with us of a truth : some wept, 
and others rejoiced. Brother M. informed me 
that God had converted his three children, and 
a negro girl, the night before ; and I heard 
them tell the Lord's dealings and goodness to 
their souls. In class, the power of the Lord 
was present ; one was slain, and divers others 

I \ 




LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 221 



were so overcome, and filled with redeeming 
love, that they could hold no more. Glory to 
God, that was a good time to many, and I was 
happy in my own soul. 

Next day, we had a peaceable waiting before 
the Lord, both under the word and in class. 
In the evening the power of the Lord slew one, 
and when he revived, he testified that God had 
saved his soul, and cried out, 0, that I had 
wings that I might fly to Jesus ! O, that I 
could die, to be with my Jesus ! clapping his 
hands, and shouting glory to God ! 

May 25th, we had a melting time ; both 
saints and sinners wept under the word. In the 
afternoon, I preached from these words, " To 
you that fear my name, shall the Sun of right- 
eousness arise with healing in his wings ; and 
ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the 
stall." God attended the word with the energy 
of his Holy Spirit, in such a manner that num- 
bers fell to the floor, and four found Him of 
whom Moses and the prophets did write. The 
wicked flew to the door. Glory to God, there 
was a shaking among the dry bones, and we 
had a shout in the camp of Israel. In family 
prayer the Lord was among us of a truth ; one 
fell to the floor and cried for mercy. Glory to 
God, the place was glorious because of his 
presence, and my soul was happy in my God. 

Next day we held a prayer meeting in the 
evening, and several were struck to the floor by 
the power of God, and we had a shout in the 
camp. 



222 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



May 27th, at night we had a prayer meeting', 
and the God of love was present, in the power 
and energy of his Holy Spirit. Many cried out 
and several fell to the floor, and besought God 
to have mercy on their souls : three bore testi- 
mony that God had pardoned all their sins. 
One lay for near an hour as though she had been 
dead, and then came to, and sung with such a 
melodious note as I never had heard before. 
The voice seemed as if four or, five were sing- 
ing together ; but upon examining them, no one 
had sung with her ; neither did they understand 
the tune, notwithstanding they all distinctly 
heard it, as if four or five w T ere singing. She 
then seemed to die away again, and when she 
came to, sung as before : this was repeated 
several times : at length she arose from the 
floor, praising God for her deliverance, declar- 
ing his goodness to her soul. It was a good 
time ; sinners trembled and saints rejoiced, 
and my soul was happy. 

Next day the Lord lay to his hand, and 
sanctified one soul, and justified another in a 
powerful manner. 

May 30th, I preached, and the power of the 
Lord was present in such a manner, that seve- 
ral fell to the floor. The cries and lamenta- 
tions of the wounded and distressed were great. 

June 1st, I preached in town : in the morn- 
ing we had a melting time ; many wept. In the 
afternoon the Lord poured out his Spirit, and 
the slain fell before him like dead men ; others 
lay as in the agonies of death, intreating God 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 223 

to have mercy on their souls ; some found 
peace. Glory to God, many in this town 
seemed alarmed of their danger ; may the Lord 
increase their number. A girl who lived with 
a Quaker was cut to the heart in such a man- 
ner, that they did not know how to get her 
home ; I went to see her, and found many 
round her, both white and black. She lay as 
one near her last gasp ; I kneeled down and 
besought God for her deliverance, and in a few 
minutes she broke out in raptures of joy, crying 
out, Let me go to Jesus ! repeating it several 
times ; then she arose and went home. Glory 
to God ! for what my eyes saw, my ears heard, 
and soul felt that day, of the blessed Spirit : 
the meeting continued from three o'clock until 
evening. 

Two young women at a certain place and 
time, sitting in their father's house, one said 
unto the other, If mammy had religion I should 
get it too. The Lord struck her with convic- 
tion, in such a manner, that she cried so loud 
for mercy, that she alarmed all the house with 
her cries ; and thus she continued, until three 
of her sisters were all struck with the like con- 
viction for sin. Their cries to God continued 
near forty-eight hours, with little intermission, 
when God, in his infinite mercy, set two of their 
souls at liberty, to rejoice in his redeeming love. 
Another of them came to town, and met me, 
and I went home with her. As we were riding 
along the road, she, being under sore distress of 
soul, cried aloud for mercy, and God broke in 



224 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

upon her soul in such a manner, that she clap- 
ped her hands and cried, Glory to God in the 
highest ! There was another young woman in 
the carriage with her, and the power of God 
struck her in so wonderful a manner, that she 
lost the use of her limbs, and lay about an hour ; 
when she came to, her first words were, Is this 
perfect love 1 In time of prayer, at the meeting 
we attended, God poured out his Spirit in such 
a manner, that several fell to the*floor with such 
cries and screeches, that a solemn awe sat on 
every face, and before the meeting ended, six 
souls were set at liberty, to rejoice in the Rock 
of ages. Thanks be to God. 

Monday, June 2d, in prayer meeting in the 
evening the Lord was with us of a truth. Next 
day, I preached and had a melting time : at 
night the Lord was with us in power, and we 
had a proper shout. " Rejoice greatly, 
daughter of Zion ; shout, daughter of Jeru- 
salem. Behold thy king cometh unto thee ; he 
is just, and having salvation," Zech. ix, 9. 

June 4th, I preached, and the Lord laid to 
his almighty power ; several fell to the floor; 
some professed sanctification, and two to be 
justified : believers were built up in the most 
holy faith. 

June 5th, I preached, and the Lord poured 
out his Spirit in mighty power; the cry of 
mourners was so great that the noise might 
have been heard afar off. Several were set at 
liberty from the bondage of sin and Satan, and 
were made partakers of that love which makes 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 225 

glad the city of God. One professed sanctifi- 
cation, and several were awakened : thanks be 
to the Most High. 

June 6th, the Lord under the word, poured 
out his Spirit in such a manner, that three or 
four found peace, and two professed sanctifica- 
tion. Believers were built up, and it was a 
good day to many souls. At night, we had a 
proper shout : one fell to the floor, and lay as if 
she were dead, and when she came to, she shout- 
ed and gave glory to God for her deliverance. 

I met class at sister Brown's. There we had 
a powerful time; several were lost as in the 
ocean of redeeming love. Glory to God for 
ever ! One was sanctified in a powerful man- 
ner at that meeting, and in the evening we had 
a melting time. The Lord filled one of our 
sisters with perfect love, in the carriage as she 
was returning home in such a powerful manner 
that she lost both the power of her body and 
speech ; but when she recovered herself, she 
said that God had given her a clean heart, and 
had filled her soul with love. 

Sunday, June 8th, we held a love-feast, and 
the Lord laid his helping hand upon us, and 
poured out his Spirit in such a manner, that not 
one soul spoke their experience in love-feast. 
Sinners trembled and fell to the floor, while 
Christians shouted praises to God and the Lamb 
for ever. One lay as if she were dead ; num- 
bers were powerfully wrought upon. This was 
a love-feast indeed : I never saw but one like it 
before, in which no one spoke their experience. 
15 



226 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



I preached that day with great freedom and 
power. 

Monday, 9th, I held prayer meeting, and the 
Lord manifested his love among us. There 
was a shaking among the dry bones. One lay 
as if she were dead, for near two hours, and 
then came to with praises to God for her de- 
liverance, with great raptures of joy. The 
children of God were rilled with joy unspeaka- 
ble. How inexpressible are the pleasures of 
those, who are filled with the raptures of a 
Saviour's love ! Ecstatic pause ! " Silence 
heightens heaven !" 

Friday, 13th, I held prayer meeting, and the 
power of the Lord fell upon the people in such 
a manner, that the slain lay all over the floor. 
Several were converted to God ; one or two 
professed sanctification : glory to God, he car- 
ried on his own work. 

Sat. 14th, I preached, and had a melting time. 
I met class, and the power of the Lord came down, 
and we had a shout in the camp of the Lord. 

Sunday, 15th, the Lord attended the word 
with power, and divers fell before him like 
Dagon before the ark. I was obliged to leave 
the slain on the floor, in order to attend my next 
appointment, where I found a large congrega- 
tion, to whom I preached. In class we had a 
melting time, and a shout in the camp. It was 
a day of his power ; he worked and none could 
hinder him. Next day, I preached at a new 
place, and had a favoured time ; some sighed, 
and some groaned, and others wept. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 227 

Tuesday, 17th, I preached, and the Lord at- 
tended the word with power ; several were cut 
to the heart, and one found peace to her soul. 
Blessed be God, he has not forgotten to be 
gracious. " They that seek shall find." 

Wednesday, 18th. This was a day of power : 
I preached, and the Lord attended the word 
with the energy of his Spirit. Saint and sinner 
felt his power ; numbers cried aloud for mercy, 
and several found Him of whom Moses and the 
prophets wrote. One lay as in the agony of 
death for some time, but glory to God he set 
his soul at liberty, whereby he was enabled to 
rejoice in his glorious love. 

Thursday, 19th, I preached to a few, but 
there was nothing done to speak of. However, 
I found peace in my own soul. At evening, I 
met class, and the Lord was with us of a truth ; 
we had a shout in the camp of Jesus. 

Sunday, 22d, I preached with life and power ; 
and the Lord manifested his presence among 
us ; some cried for mercy and a solemn awe 
sat on many faces. I went to my next appoint- 
ment, and preached to a large congregation. 
The Lord laid to his helping hand, and there 
was a mighty shaking among the dry bones : 
divers persons lay through the house, as dead 
men and women, slain by the mighty power of 
God. The same Jesus who raised Lazarus 
from the dead, raised up nine persons, that we 
could ascertain, to praise him as a sin-pardon- 
ing God ; and how many more, that we could 
not ascertain, God only knows : for many wept, 



228 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



and some shouted praises to God and the 
Lamb : glory to God, this was a day that will 
be long remembered by many precious souls. 
Some were so filled and running over with per- 
fect love, that as they returned home, they 
shouted praises to God as they went on their 
way. I was as happy as I could live in the body. 

Monday, 23d, I held a prayer meeting, and it 
was a good time to many ; some were so filled 
with the love of God that it took away the use 
of their limbs, and they lay on the floor as 
happy as they could live, rejoicing in the God 
and rock of their salvation. We had at that 
time about twelve children on the circuit, who 
were happy in religion, and the Lord was doing 
great things for many. My soul was on the wing. 

Tuesday, 24th, I held another prayer meet- 
ing, and had a powerful time. Next day I met 
class, and we had a melting time. At night I 
preached and the power of the Lord was pre- 
sent to the joy of his children ; and we had a 
shout in the assembly. " Cry out and shout, 
thou inhabitant of Zion : for great is the Holy 
One of Israel in the midst of thee," Isa. xii, 6. 

Thursday, 26th, we had an awful time : num- 
bers cried out for mercy, and the Lord set some 
at liberty* to rejoice in his redeeming love. 
" Let thy priests be clothed with salvation, and 
let thy saints rejoice in goodness," 2 Chron. 
vi, 41. 

Friday, 27th, I preached, and the Lord laid 
to his almighty arm of power, in such a manner, 
that several lay as if they were in the agony of 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 229 

death ; some trembled, and others cried aloud 
for mercy. Glory to the eternal God, he slays, 
and he makes alive. In his mercy he set seve- 
ral at liberty to rejoice in his redeeming love. 
This was a day of his power to many souls, and 
my soul was happy. 

Sunday, 29th, I preached twice, as usual on 
the Sabbath ; in the morning we had a precious 
time, and in the afternoon we had the shout of 
a king in the camp. Some were rejoicing in 
redeeming love ; and others were crying in 
bitterness of soul, for mercy at the hand of 
God ; while the power of the Lord slew others 
as men cut down in battle. It was a day of 
days to many souls. Glory to the eternal God ! 
This meeting continued from three o'clock until 
evening. 

July 3d, I preached, and had a precious 
time ; then I met class, and the presence of 
the Lord was among us. " For the Lord thy 
God walked in the midst of thy camp to deliver 
thee," Deut. xxiii, 14. Next day the Lord 
was with us of a truth : one was set at liberty 
and several of the friends seemed lost in the 
ocean of God's love. In the afternoon we had 
a melting time among the friends. At night 
we held a prayer meeting, and many were slain 
before the Lord ; one professed to be justified 
freely by his grace ; another professed sancti- 
fication. This was a time, to my soul, long to 
be remembered ; and I trust it will be remem- 
bered by many others. This meeting conti- 
nued until near three o'clock. 



230 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

Friday, 4th, I preached from 1 John, iv, 16, 
"God is love." It was a time of love indeed : 
for divers of God's dear children were lost in 
the ocean of redeeming grace ; and the God of 
love spoke peace to three souls. That day 
will never be forgotten to my soul ; though I 
was weak in body, I was strong in spirit. 

Sunday, 6th, I preached in the morning, and 
it was a good time to many; several cried 
aloud, some seemed lost in the ocean of re- 
deeming love, and I was so happy that I could 
hardly refrain from crying out. In the after- 
noon we had a large congregation ; and the devil 
got angry, and made one of his servants throw 
some stones. We had a happy time in class : 
afterward I went home with one of our friends, 
and held a prayer meeting, and the Master of 
assemblies was with us. 

Monday evening I held a prayer meeting, 
and had a melting time : some of the friends 
were lost as in wonder, love, and praise. The 
next day I held a prayer meeting again, and the 
Lord was with us. Some cried out, 44 Praise 
the Lord, my soul ! and all that is within me, 
praise his holy name." The next day likewise 
I held a prayer meeting, and we had a comfort- 
able time. 

Friday, 11th, I preached a funeral sermon, 
and the Lord was present with us. At night I 
held a prayer meeting, and we had a melting 
time. The next day the Lord was with us in 
a powerful manner ; some cried out, and others 
were lost in the ocean of love, and I was happy 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABEOTT. 



231 



in my own soul : blessed be God, he has not 
forgotten to be gracious. 

Sunday, 13th, in the forenoon I preached to 
a large congregation, and the Lord laid to his 
helping hand : some lay on the floor as in the 
agony of death ; others were crying aloud for 
mercy, and some were shouting praises to God, 
being filled with his love. Several fled out of 
the house, choosing rather to risk their lot 
among the damned, than to expose themselves 
in the congregation by asking mercy at the 
hand of God. The Lord set one soul at liber- 
ty, and another professed sanctification. " The 
Lord's hand is not shortened." In the after- 
noon I went to my other appointment, where I 
met a large congregation, to whom I preached, 
and the Lord made bare his arm in such a 
manner, that there was a shaking among the 
dry bones : some cried aloud, others were happy 
in God. Glory to his dear name, my soul was 
happy. 

Monday, 14th, I preached, and had a melt- 
ing time ; sinners were cut to the heart, be- 
lievers were transported with the presence of 
God, and my heart was swallowed up in redeem- 
ing love. I joined ten in society; may God 
record their names in the Lamb's book of life. 
In the evening I preached again, and the Lord 
poured out his Spirit, and we had a shout in the 
camp of Israel. 

Next day, under preaching, the power of 
God was with us in such a manner that some 
wept, and others seemed lost in the ocean of 



232 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

love. One professed sanctification, and another 
was so struck by the mighty power of God, that 
she shook from head to foot, as if in the agony 
of death, for near the space of two hours, some- 
times crying to God for mercy, at other times 
that her heart would break ; at length her 
strength failed, and she lay for a time like one 
dead : when she came to, she praised God for 
her deliverance, while many stood around her 
amazed. Glory to God for a miracle of grace ! 
I was so happy that I could hardly utter a sen- 
tence until God withdrew his hand a little. — 
Were we to be always thus happy, we should 
be disqualified for earth or worldly things. 
O ! what raptures shall we have in heaven ! 

Wednesday, 16th, I preached, and the Lord 
poured out his Spirit, both under the word and 
in class, in so wonderful a manner, that a 
woman lay under the mighty operation of the 
Spirit of God, as one dead, for near the space of 
three hours ; several felt her hands and arms, 
and they were apparently cold as if she had 
been dead and laid out ; but glory to God, when 
he by his Spirit revived her, she could testify 
that he had sanctified her soul, and filled her 
with joy unspeakable. Several of the friends 
were baptized in the fountain of love ; and for 
my own part, I was so filled with the love of 
God that I could hold no more. " It was good 
measure, pressed down, and shaken together, 
and running over," Luke vi, 38. I adore God 
for what I have felt and seen ; my tongue or 
pen can never express it on this side of eternity. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 233 



Saturday, 19th, our quarterly meeting began, 
and we had a blessed time to many souls. 

Sunday, 20th, our meeting began at six o'clock 
in the morning, and when we had sung and 
prayed, the power of God came down in such 
a manner that the slain lay all through the house. 
Some seemed lost in the ocean of God's love, 
some professed justification, and others, that 
God had sanctified their souls. This meeting 
was so powerful that but one attempted to speak 
her experience in love-feast ; while she was 
speaking, she sunk down, crying out, God has 
made me all love ! Immediately the house was 
filled with cries and praises to God ; some 
trembled and were astonished. We had to 
carry the slain out of the house, in order to make 
room, that the people might come in for the 
public preaching ; and when we had sung and 
prayed, the presence of the Lord came down 
as in the days of old, and the house was filled 
with his glory ; the people fell before him like 
men slain in battle. It was a great day of 
God's power to many souls ; some professed 
sanctiflcation, some justification, and others 
were lost as in the ocean of redeeming love. — 
This was a day of days to my soul. The win- 
dows being open, there were hundreds outside 
gazing at those in the house who were slain 
before the Lord ; but they lay both in the house 
and out of it. Prayers were put up to God, 
both within and without the house, in behalf of 
the penitents and mourners. I trust that many 
date their conviction, and others their conversion 



234 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



from that quarterly meeting. I went from this 

meeting to brother D % with some other 

friends, where we joined in prayer, and the Lord 
(glory to his name) poured out of his Spirit in 
a powerful manner among us. I then went 
home with some friends, where we sung praises 
to God ; and while we were singing, the power 
of God fell on me in such a manner that I cried 
out: the power reached all in the room, and 
one fell to the floor, crying to God ; after some 
time, she cried out, I see Jesus ! (repeating it 
several times,) and then I see Moses and Elias ! 
but not with my bodily eyes. She then cried 
out, I am going ! my arms are dead ! call Mrs. 
A. When Mrs. A. came, she told her that she 
saw her mother standing in white ; then gave 
some words of exhortation to repentance ; she 
then died away, and lay in that state about 
twenty minutes : afterward she came to, and 
declared that the Lord had sanctified her soul, 
praising God and the Lamb in raptures of joy. 
Another fell as if she had been shot, and lay 
some time : when she came to, she likewise 
professed sanctifying grace. This little meet- 
ing held about four hours. 

Monday, I held prayer meeting in the evening, 
and God visited us in such a manner, that se- 
veral fell to the floor ; some professed to find 
Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote : 
this meeting held until three in the morning. 

Tuesday, I met class, and had a melting 
time ; the members seemed swallowed up in 
the ocean of love. One was sanctified in a 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 235 

powerful manner. It was a happy time to my 
soul. In the evening, under preaching, the 
Lord set the soul of one at liberty, to rejoice in 
his love. 44 The shout of a king was among 
them," Num. xxiii, 21. 

Wednesday, under the word, some found 
peace, and one experienced sanctifying grace ; 
many were lost as in the ocean of love, and we 
again had the shout of a king in the camp. 

Thursday, in the forenoon, under preaching, 
God poured out his Spirit in a powerful man- 
ner ; his children were happy in his love, and it 
was a good time to my own soul. In the 
evening we had a peaceable waiting before 
God. How pleasant is it to be found in the 
work of the Lord when the blessed Redeemer 
is with us ! 

Next day I preached and met class, and we 
had a precious time among the children of God. 
At night I held a prayer meeting, and the power 
of the Lord was present among us ; one pro- 
fessed justification, and God's children were 
built up in their most holy faith. Nothing is 
so encouraging to a minister, as to see sinners 
converted, and the people of God going forward 
in their journey toward the heavenly Canaan. 

Saturday, 26th, I went to quarterly meeting, 
Dover circuit, Kent county, Delaware state ; 
we had a happy day. On Sunday, in love-feast, 
the Lord God of Elijah, who answereth by fire, 
poured out his Spirit in such a manner that 
the altar of the Christians' hearts was all in a 
flame with the seraphic fire of love. 44 Elijah 



236 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of 
Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known 
this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I 
am thy servant, &c. Hear me, Lord, hear 
me, that this people may know that thou art the 
Lord God, &c. Then the fire of the Lord fell, 
and consumed the burnt sacrifice, &c. And 
when the people saw it, they fell on their faces : 
and they said, the Lord, he is the God ; the 
Lord, he is the God," 1 Kings xviii, 36-39. 
So on that day, when the fire of the Lord came 
down, the people fell and acknowledged the 
power of God ; and the slain lay all about the 
house ; some were carried out as dead men and 
women ; while others were lost in the ocean of 
love, shouting praises to God and the Lamb. 
The house was filled with the glory of Israel's 
God, who spoke peace to mourners, while sin- 
ners were cut to the heart. Glory to God, it 
was a high day to my own soul. It was thought 
there were about fifteen hundred looking on, 
with wonder and amazement at the mighty 
power of God, which caused the powers of hell 
to shake and give way ; many of the spectators 
trembled and were astonished ; a number pro- 
fessed faith in Christ, and others sanctifying 
grace : God's dear children, generally, were 
refreshed in redeeming love. This was one of 
the days of the Son of man. Glory to God, 
saith my soul. 

Monday, I was very unwell, but happy in the 
love of God. On Tuesday, in family prayer, the 
power of God came down wonderfully upon us ; 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABEOTT. 237 

four fell to the floor, and they found " Him of 
whom Moses in the law and the prophets did 
write, Jesus of Nazareth," to the joy of their 
souls. 

Wednesday, 30th, I held prayer meeting, and 
the Lord made bare his almighty power, to the 
joy of his children ; one fell to the floor, divers 
were plunged into the ocean of love, and we had 
a shout in the camp of Israel. 

Thursday, I met class ; one fell to the floor, 
entreating God for mercy, and soon lay as one 
dead for near an hour ; it was a happy time to 
the children of God. 

Friday, Aug. 1st, I preached and had a good 
time ; met class and had a melting time among 
the dear children of God. At night, after 
preaching, I dismissed the people, but they 
would not go away ; perceiving this, I gave out 
a hymn and went to prayer, and the Lord pour- 
ed out his Spirit, and slew them as men slain 
in battle : some lay as in the agonies of death, 
some were rejoicing in God, others were cry- 
ing for mercy, and blessed be the Most High, 
he met with many to the joy of their souls ; and 
his dear children were built up in their most 
holy faith. This meeting lasted for near four 
hours, and I trust will not be forgotten by many. 

Saturday, 2d, I went to the quarterly meeting. 
It was a very wet day ; but, glory to God, he 
poured out his Spirit in such a manner that the 
house was filled with cries : some shouting praises 
to God for redeeming love ; others entreating for 
mercy ; while divers persons lay slain before the 



238 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

Lord, by his mighty power, as in the agonies of 
death. It was a day of God's power to many 
souls; some professed sanctification, and others 
justification. I went to a house and baptized a 
child : in the time of prayer, the mother shook, 
every joint in her body ; four persons fell to the 
floor ; one professed that God had sanctified her 
soul ; another cried out, I see Jesus ! repeat- 
ing it divers times, and then said, I am full ! 
Lord, hold thy hand ! for I can contain no more. 

Saturday, Aug. 9th, it rained so that I could 
not attend my appointment ; but a few friends 
came to the house in the evening, and we had 
a prayer meeting. The power of the Lord 
came down in such a manner among us, that 
the place was glorious because of his presence, 
and the dear children of God were fed with his 
heavenly manna, to the joy of their souls. 

Sunday, 10th, I preached to a large congre- 
gation, and the Lord opened the windows of 
heaven and poured down righteousness ; some 
wept, and some rejoiced ; some were crying for 
mercy, and others were praising God ; one rose 
up and said that God had sanctified her soul, 
clapping her hands with praises to God ; an- 
other cried out that God had pardoned all her 
sins ; the sacred flame of God's love spread 
through the house. Glory to God, it was a good 
day to my soul. " Let every creature praise 
the Lord ! Praise him, my soul !" In the 
afternoon I went to my other appointment, 
where I found a large congregation waiting to 
hear the word. Here I met with brother C, 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 239 

and he preached from, " Ye must be born 
again ;" and when he had concluded, I arose 
and gave an exhortation, and God made the ap- 
plication with power, so that there was a shout 
in the camp ; many were lost in the ocean of 
love : this was a happy day to my soul. 

Monday, 11th, I had a favoured time in de- 
livering the word : three joined in society, and 
many were cut to the heart. I spoke freely 
and plainly to them of the things of God, that 
appertained to their souls' eternal welfare. I 
left divers of them in tears, and trust that some 
good seed was sown that day, which will be 
found, with its increase, in great eternity. I 
went to town, and in the evening held a prayer 
meeting : we sung and began to pray, and God 
began to work among the people in power : the 
house was filled with cries and groans to God 
for mercy, and numbers fell to the floor, and 
one fell across my feet. The cries of the dis- 
tressed made the streets to ring ; many stood 
gazing at those who were slain before the Lord, 
and at those who were praising God aloud, in 
raptures of joy for their deliverance. I em- 
braced the opportunity to speak for my God. 
and I asked them if that which they heard was 
the language of the devil. Hark! you hear no 
cursing nor swearing ; certainly this is not the 
language of drunkards, or of horse racers, or 
of revellers, or any such like. Their cry is, 
" Mercy, or I perish V* I asked one woman 
what she thought was the matter with another 
that lay on the floor ; she answered that she 



240 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



thought her sin was the cause of it, and that 
she was crying to God for mercy ; I exhorted 
her to do likewise, telling her that God would 
have mercy on her also. 

Tuesday, 12th, I preached, and had a precious 
time. I met class, and some of the dear children 
were overwhelmed in the fountain of love. t 

Wednesday, 13th, I preached, and many were 
cut to the heart ; one cried aloud for mercy ; 
others were happy in the love of God. It was 
a good time to my soul. 

Thursday, 14th, I preached to a hard-hearted 
people. I told them their danger of living in 
sin ; but I saw little or no effects. I hope that 
the seed of the word will be found not alto- 
gether lost : but that some fell where it will 
bring forth fruit. In the evening I met class, 
and we had a shout in the camp : four joined 
society. It was a happy time to the dear chil- 
dren of God. 

Next day I held a prayer meeting, and the 
Lord laid to his helping hand : one cried out 
and fell to the floor, with screeches that seemed 
to pierce the hearts of many. Six others also 
fell to the floor, and cried aloud for mercy, so 
that the noise was heard a mile and a half. One 
sinner stood looking on, and I said to him, Sin- 
ner, pray ; for I do not know but that God may 
strike you dead, and send you to hell in a mo- 
ment ! With that I called up all the people to 
pray for him ; and he sunk down to the floor, 
and called on God for mercy. I left him and 
three others in sore distress for their sins ; some 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 241 



found the pearl of great value ; thanks be to the 
Most High, it was a happy time to my soul. 

Saturday, 16th, I read and prayed, and found 
an uninterrupted peace in my soul. 

Sunday, 17th, I preached to a tender-hearted 
people, and the Lord poured out his Spirit 
upon them : some wept and some groaned, 
while God's children were rejoicing in his love : 
one found peace; two joined society; and it 
was a good time to my soul. 

I went to my next appointment, where I 
preached with great liberty, and the Master laid 
to his almighty arm of power. There was a 
great shaking among the dry bones, several fell 
to the floor, some as dead men, while the cries 
of others for mercy were very great : several 
lay as in the agonies of death, and several found 
peace to their troubled souls, whereby they were 
enabled to rejoice in the Rock of eternal ages. 
Two professed that God had deepened the 
work in their souls, and eight joined society : 
may God record their names in the Lamb's 
book of life. This meeting held from three 
o'clock until night : some were shouting praises 
to God and the Lamb, some praying with and 
for the disconsolate, so that the noise might be 
heard afar off. It was a day of God's power 
to many souls, and several went from the house 
crying to God for mercy ; for my own part, I 
was almost lost in the ocean of love. I spoke 
until I was so exhausted that I could say no 
more, and then I withdrew from the house : I 
went and lay down in order to refresh the body. 
16 



242 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

"Wednesday, 20th, I met class ; the Lord 
was with us in power, and his dear children 
were all filled with love. I was so happy that 
I could contain no more, and I told them that I 
was as happy as I would wish to be in the 
hour of death. Glory to God for what he has 
done for poor me. 44 Happy is that people who 
is in such a case : yea, happy is that people 
whose God is the Lord," Psa. cxliv, 15. 

Thursday, 21st, we had a melting time under 
the word, and in class also we had a precious 
time ; seven joined society. Several seemed, 
as it were, lost in the ocean of love : 44 The 
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace," &c, 
Gal. v, 22. 

Friday, 22d, I went to a friend's house, and 
held prayer meeting ; and we had a precious 
time ; some poor sinners wept sorely ; may 
God comfort them ! I thank God we had a 
happy time there. 

Saturday, 23d, I went to see a friend, and she 
told me that a young man in the neighbourhood 
wanted to see me ; I asked her for what? she 
replied, that he had dreamed he was in hell ; 
and, in his torment and dreadful agony, he 
thought that he saw me at a distance, praying 
for him with upiifted hands : he then awoke in 
the greatest distress imaginable, all in a profu- 
sion of sweat, so great had been his agony. He 
immediately after came in where I was, and re- 
lated the same thing. I told him it was a loud 
call to prepare to meet God ; and he appeared 
very sensible of his imminent danger, and pro- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 243 

mised to amend his life. I recommended them 
to God in payer, and left them and went to 
town. 

Sunday, 241h, I preached, and had a melting 
time : some cried aloud. It was a happy time 
to my soul. In the afternoon brother C. preach- 
ed from, " And in hell he lifted up his eyes, 
being in torments," Luke xvi, 23, and God 
attended the word in power. After he had 
concluded I arose and gave an exhortation from 
the same words ; and one sunk to the floor, and 
many wept aloud, and we had a shout in the 
camp. I vent to one of the distressed, and 
prayer was made for her ; but her mother came 
and seizec her by the arm, and when she found 
that she cid not answer her by moving her, she 
began to pinch her as if she would pinch pieces 
out of ter flesh. I looked up and prayed to 
God to have mercy on this old devil-hardened 
sinner, and called upon all the people to pray 
for the poor old sinner ; she seemed to be struck 
for seme time, but soon got her daughter by the 
arm igain, and pulled and bore her off. This 
was i precious day to my soul. Glory to God 
for tie wonders of redeeming love ! 

Monday, 25th, I read, meditated, and prayed 
throngh the day, and held a prayer meeting in 
the evening. God was with us in a powerful 
manner, and many were filled with love. 

Tuesday, 26th, I preached and the power of 
the Lord was present to heal ; in class we had 
a shout in the camp : glory to God for ever, 
this was a precious time to many souls ! 



244 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABB3TT. 

Wednesday, 27th, I preached, and the Lord 
attended the word with the energy of his Holy 
Spirit: his children were refreshed in spirit, 
and built up in the faith : four joined society. 
Praise the Lord, my soul, and let all my 
powers magnify the Most High. 

Thursday, 28th, I preached, and had the 
shout of a king in the camp of Jesus. Many 
seemed to bathe in the " fountain that was 
opened to the house of David, and to the in- 
habitants of Jerusalem for sin and for unclean- 
ness," Zech. xiii, 1. It was a precious time to 
my soul. In the evening we had a peaceable 
waiting before the Lord, and I trust some had 
their strength renewed. " They that wait upon 
the Lord shall renew their strength : ;hey shall 
mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall run 
and not be weary ; they shall walk and not 
faint," Isa. xl, 31. 

Friday, 29th, I preached and administered 
the Lord's Supper : we had a favoured true to 
our edification : thanks be to God for his love 
to his creatures. The next day I met ;hree 
classes and had a precious time among the dear 
children of God. Many of them seemed as if 
lost in redeeming love ; and a Baptist woman 
joined society. In the evening we had a shout 
in the camp ; and two joined class, and several 
were lost as in the ocean of God's love : it was 
a good time to my own soul. 

Sunday, 31st, in the morning the Master of 
assemblies was present ; some wept, and we 
had a small shout. In the afternoon appoint- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



245 



frient the Lord lay to his helping hand in the 
power and energy of his Spirit ; the devil was 
put to flight ; and I believe above fifty fled out 
of (he house with fright, anger, or astonishment, 
for the people fell down before the Lord as men 
slain in the battle, and lay as if they were : 
thus the cries and screeches of the wounded so 
alarmed the wicked, that divers of them could 
not stand it, and were put to flight. But many 
others were clapping their hands, shouting 
praises to God and the Lamb, for the mani- 
festation of his love shed abroad in their hearts, 
so that we had the shout of a king in the camp. 
Glory be to God who caused the strong holds 
of the devil to give way. Our little army was 
in good spirits, filled with faith and the Holy 
Ghost; and, I trust, in the strength of Jesus, 
we took the ground : thanks be to God for that 
day's victory. "So shall the Lord of Hosts 
come down to fight for Mount Zion," Isaiah 
xxxi, 4. " And the Lord wrought a great 
victory that day," 2 Samuel xxiii, 10. " Thine, 

Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and 
the glory, and the victory, and the majesty," 

1 Chronicles xxix, 11. 

September 1st, 1794, 1 read and prayed, &c. 
In the evening I held a prayer meeting ; and 
we had a good time : one fell to the floor cry- 
ing to God for mercy, and found peace to her 
soul ; three boys were powerfully wrought upon, 
and wept bitterly. 

Tuesday, 2d, I read and prayed, &c, through 
the day ; and in the evening held a prayer meet- 



246 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

ing ; we had a precious time, and a shout in the 
camp : many were happy in God's love. 

Wednesday, 3d, I preached, and the Lord 
was present to wound and heal. Some cried 
out under a sense of their undone state by na- 
ture ; some sighed, some groaned, some shouted 
praises to God ; and some ran away, as if de- 
termined to take hell by storm, rather thar. to 
expose themselves in the congregation by beg- 
ging or crying for mercy at the hand of God. 
What a pity that the opposers do not well con- 
sider Acts v, 39, u But if it be of God, ye 
cannot overthrow it ; lest haply ye be found 
even to fight against God :" again, Acts xxiii, 
9, " Let us not fight against God." 

Thursday, 4th, on my way to my next ap- 
pointment, I overtook a woman, to whom I said, 
How do you do? She answered, I am Very 
poorly, and am taking a ride for my health. 
This, said I, brings us to think of death. Do 
you think, said she, that I have lived fifty-two 
years, and never thought of dying ? I perceive 
that you are a Methodist ; I know my prayers, 
and have got my prayer book and my Bible, ani 
can read as well as you : she then asked my 
name : I told her Benjamin Abbott Ah ! said 
she, I have heard of your preaching hell and 
damnation to the people, but I would never suffer 
any one to tell me of hell and damnation. Do 
you know, said I, what our Lord said? Yes, 
said she, as well as you do. I told her that our 
Lord said, 14 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Ex- 
cept a man be born again he cannot see the 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 247 

kingdom of God," John iii, 3 ; and if you are 
not born of the Spirit (living and dying so) you 
will as surely be damned as that you have got 
a soul : she appeared rather angry, and there 
being a gate that led to the left, she turned in 
thereat, and so we parted. I went on, thinking 
what poor creatures we are by nature. I spent 
the remainder of the day in prayer for the pros- 
perity of Zion. 

Friday, 5th, I rode to brother H.'s, and met 
class in the evening ; and the Lord poured out 
his blessings in such a manner upon us that 
the weeping and shouting might have been 
heard a great way off. Glory to God, that was 
a happy time*to many souls. " So the people 
shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. 
And when the people heard the sound of the 
trumpets, and the people shouted with a great 
shout, the wall fell down flat," Joshua vi, 20. 

Saturday, 6th, I rode to my appointment, and 
preached to a blessed people, and the Lord was 
with us in a powerful manner. In class, the 
dear people spoke very feelingly of God's good- 
ness to their souls, and we had a precious time. 
At night I met a class, and we had a shout in 
the camp. " And when the ark of the cove- 
nant came into the camp, all Israel shouted with 
a great shout, so that the earth rang again," 
1 Sam. iv, 5. Several were lost in the ocean 
of love ; and three joined society. This was 
a precious time to my soul. 

Sunday, 7th, I preached with freedom : after 
preaching, I met class, and we had a favoured 



248 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

time, I went home with one of the friends ; 
and in family prayer we had a happy time. 
Praise the Lord, my soul, and all that is 
within me praise his holy name for ever. 

Monday, 8ta, I preached, and the Lore! 
poured out his Spirit, and we had a shaking 
among the dry bones of Israel : see Ezek. 
xxxvii. Some were lost in the ocean of love ; 
and in class we had a precious time ; and in 
family prayer the Lord poured out his Spirit, 
and we had a shout ; I was as happy as I could 
wish. 

Tuesday, 9th, I preached, and the Master 
favoured us with a feeling sense of his pre- 
sence ; several were lost in the o*cean of love. 
Six joined society, and divers spoke feelingly 
of God's goodness to their souls. 

Wednesday, 10th, the Lord was present in 
our assembly, to the joy of his children. In 
class he particularly remembered his needy 
creatures. I was happy in my own soul ; but 
was under bodily affliction, which prevented 
me from preaching in the evening. 

Thursday, 11th, I continued full of pain in 
body, but happy in soul. Glory to God, when 
he afflicts with one hand, he comforts with the 
other. " The days of affliction have taken 
hold upon me," Job xxx, 16. 

Friday, 12th, I had a fit of the ague, which 
was followed with a violent fever : during which 
period, being light headed, and wandering in 
my mind, I was informed that I continued 
preaching and praying until it abated. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 249 

Saturday, 13th, being a little better, I went 
and met class in the evening, and had a pre- 
cious time ; thanks be to God for his good- 
ness to poor me. 

Sunday, 14th, I was very unwell ; but I be- 
sought God, that if it was his will that I should 
go to my appointments, he^ would strengthen 
me for this once, as he did Samson among 
the Philistines, and he did so, for I was enabled 
to attend my morning appointment and preach ; 
and blessed be God, he laid to his helping hand 
and we had a shout in the camp, and four join- 
ed society. I attended my other appointment 
and preached, and the Lord poured out his 
Spirit in power. At the t ble of the Lord 
we had such a time as I never saw before ; 
divers lost all the power of their bodies, and 
were overwhelmed in the love of God, and 
seemed lost in redeeming love. I tarried with 
them until I was so overcome that J was obliged 
to retire to the house, where I threw myself on 
the bed, until I recovered my bodily strength a 
little ; but I still heard them shouting praises to 
God and the Lamb. This was a happy day to 
my soul. " Let the wilderness, and the cities 
thereof, lift up their voices : let the inhabitants 
of the rock sing : let them shout from the top 
of the mountains," Isa. xlii, 11. 

Monday, 15th, I was very unwell, and just 
as my ague was coming on, I went into the 
cold bath, and then into bed, where I was cover- 
ed up warm ; and in fifteen minutes I began to 
sweat, and the ague left me ; but the fever re- 



250 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

turned, and I remained very unwell all next 
day. 

Wednesday, 17th, I went to town and met 
class ; and the Lord was present to the joy of 
many souls. I was as happy as I could wish 
to be in the body. 

Thursday, 18th, I attended my appointment, 
and preached to the people, and we had a 
precious time, and God's children were filled 
with his love. In class his power was present 
to the joy of many souls. I went home with 
Joshua Dudley, and spent the evening much to 
my satisfaction, in conversing on the things of 
God. Next day I went to town, and on the 21st 
I preached in the forenoon, and had a peaceable 
waiting on the Lord. In the evening the Lord 
was with us of a truth : some cried out, some fell 
to the floor, and others seemed ravished with 
the love of God. 

On the 25th I went to brother V 's, and 

preached, and the Lord poured out his Spirit ; 
some fell to the floor, and others were lost in 
redeeming love. Here I remained about two 
weeks ; my horse being lame and unable to 
travel, and I was so much afflicted myself, that 
I was obliged to take my bed. During my 
illness brother V. was taken down with the 
pleurisy and lay about ten days, and then depart- 
ed this life in the triumphs of faith. " Blessed 
are the dead which die in the Lord," Rev. xiv, 13. 

Soon after this our quarterly meeting began 
at Georgetown, and we had a shout in the 
camp ; some fell to the floor, others cried aloud 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABEOTT. 251 

for mercy ; two said that God had sanctified 
their souls, and others that they had found Him 
of whom Moses and the prophets did write, 
Jesus of Nazareth. Glory to God for what 
he has done for sinners ! 44 Sing, ye heavens, 
for the Lord hath done it : shout, ye lower 
parts of the earth : break forth into singing, ye 
mountains, O forests, and every tree therein : 
for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glori- 
fied himself in Israel," Isa. xliv, 23. 

[The compiler is sorry that he is not pos- 
sessed of any information relative to Mr. Ab- 
bott's labours, from any thing that appears in 
the manuscripts, for near the space of five 
months from this time : as the next thing that 
occurs is a letter dated February, 1795, an ex- 
tract of which is as follows :- — ] 

Rev. Sir : — 0, what species of disquietude, 
what kind of anxiety and remorse is that which 
occupies my breast ! It is beyond expression ; 
but I cannot assign any wise or good reason for 
such an extraordinary sensibility ; probably it 
may be said that it is for want of information in 
respect of education, that I am ignorant of this 
strange sensation : not so — I have languages ; 
I have philosophy; I have astronomy; am 
acquainted with the motions of the heavenly 
bodies ; I have the arts and sciences, &c, &c, 
and yet cannot obtain consolation and serenity 
of mind ; but am harassed and wonderfully 
tormented by, I know not what, in the silent 
watches of the night; I am alarmed with 



ADZ LI r \L OJb BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

dreams, visions, and awful apprehensions. Sir, 
your thoughts upon this I want ; and hope, 
that in the course of your discourse to-morrow, 
you may communicate something which may 
console the mind of your disconsolate friend, 

L H. D. 

To the Rev. Father Abbott. 

The author of this extract was one who had 
denied the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ; 
but having been previously convinced about his 
soul, he came to our quarterly meeting, and the 
Lord struck him with such a sense of his sin, 
and with such power that he fell to the floor, 
and lay as one dead for near or quite the space 
of one hour ; and when he came to, he praised 
God for his deliverance. Next morning he 
burnt all his romantic books, and among them 
Paine's Age of Reason ;* and sent for a bar- 
ber and had his hair cut short, having formerly 
worn it long ; he joined class, and now stands 
in a fair way for the kingdom of God. 

At this quarterly meeting we had a very pow- 
erful time ; the slain fell down before the Lord 
like Dagon before the ark. . Some professed 
justification, and others that God had deepened 

* Rather his abominable book of infidelity ; or ob- 
scene, ludicrous, sophistical logic, in contempt of reli- 
gion, and support of profanity and licentiousness : 
44 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking 
great things and blasphemies : and he opened his mouth 
in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and 
his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven," Reve- 
lation xiii, 5, 6. 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 253 

the work of religion in their souls, by giving 
them sanctifying grace. The flame spread 
round the circuit, and many were brought to the 
knowledge of God. A great revival took place 
in the town, and it was kept up for the space 
of near, or quite six months, and many were 
brought to the knowledge of the truth, in that 
little town, for which my soul adores the God 
and Rock of my salvation. 

In one of our meetings I observed a Quaker 
young woman, in the time of meeting, gazing 
among the slain which lay all around her : per- 
ceiving her to be unconcerned and insensible 
of her own state, I told her that she ought to 
pray for her own soul's happiness. Looking 
her right in the face, I began to pray for her 
with all the power that God had given me ; and 
I called upon all in the house to do likewise.— 
I soon perceived that she could not stand the 
power of prayer ; she hung down her head, and 
made for the door ; but the crowd being so 
great, she could not hastily get out of the 
house ; — observing this, I cried to God to pur- 
sue her by the energy of his Spirit, through the 
streets, to pursue her in the parlour, in the 
kitchen, and in the garden ; to pursue her in the 
silent watches of the night, and to show her 
the state of the damned in hell ; to give her no 
rest day or night, until she found rest in the 
wounds of a blessed Redeemer. Three days 
after, as she was walking in the garden, God 
set all her sins in an alarming mariner before 
her eyes ; she went into the house and told her 



254 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

mother that she had done enough to condemn 
her soul for ever ; even for disobedience to her 
she might be condemned ; but, said she, I have 
found a people that serve God, and I am deter- 
mined to go among them. Her mother said, 
before she should go among them, she would 
break every bone in her skin. Well, said she, 
I am determined to save my soul, but in every 
other thing to obey you as a child. Upon this 
there came in an old friend, and he strove to 
persuade her to remain among the Friends ; but 
she told him that she was determined to give 
diligence to save her soul. Accordingly, she 
went to a prayer meeting, where the Lord broke 
in upon her soul with power ; she joined class, 
and became very bold in the cause of God, 
bearing the cross of Christ, and praying in 
meetings appointed for that purpose ; and she 
stands fair for the kingdom of God. Some 
time after she came to see me, and told me how 
angry she was at me when I prayed for her as 
above related ; but now, said she, I thank God 
that I ever saw thy face, notwithstanding my 
trials from my friends are very great. I told 
her that if she was faithful, she might conquer 
or win them all, and exhorted her to stand fast 
in that liberty wherewith Christ had made her 
free. 

[N. B. Here the account which Mr. Abbott 
gave of himself in his manuscripts ends.] 



A NARRATIVE 

OP 

THE LIFE AND DEATH 

OF THE 

REY. BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



BY JOHN FFIRTH. 



This eminent servant of Christ was born in 
the year of our Lord 1732 : as he grew in years 
he grew in vice ; and being a stout, strong man, 
and of a good constitution, few men were ahle 
to contend with him in bodily strength. Being 
naturally fond of company and strong drink, it 
often led him into vice and bad company ; 
where, if any affront or insult were offered him, 
he seldom failed to deal out blows in a very 
heavy and plentiful manner to the aggressor ; 
yet I never understood that he ever beat or 
abused a civil man. However, he took great 
delight in fighting, and frequently attended fairs 
and other public places, in order to meet with 
those of his own disposition. At other times 
he worked hard, and got a comfortable living 
for his family, and supported the character of an 
honest man ; and as far as I ever heard, made 
a good husband and a kind parent. In his 
most wicked days, he considered it beneath the 
dignity of a man to use his wife or children ill. 



256 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

He continued in this scene of life until the 
fortieth year of his age, when the Lord in his 
infinite mercy, met with him in the power and 
energy of his Spirit, and convinced him of his 
undone and fallen state. He sought God ; and 
after many painful conflicts of soul, he found 
peace and pardon on the 12th day of October, 
1772. In commemoration of his conversion to 
God, he annually kept the 12th day of October 
unto the Lord, in fasting, prayer, and thanks- 
giving, until the day of his death. 

Shortly after his conversion, he w r as called of 
God to labour in his vineyard, in which he con- 
ferred not with flesh and blood ; but, like St. 
Paul, he immediately preached Christ and him 
crucified ; showing that the grace of God 
abounded to the chief of sinners : in delivering 
the everlasting truths of the Gospel, he was 
above the fear of men or devils. He was nei- 
ther elevated by applause, nor yet dejected by 
persecution ; and whether he was called a good 
man or a devil, it was of the least importance 
to him. His chief concent appeared to be the 
knowledge of his duty to God, and the faithful 
discharge of the same, independently of what 
men might think or say. 

He was a man of great humility ; he possess- 
ed an affable childlike simplicity ; he was bold 
in the cause r*f God ; fervent in his devotion 
and supplications ; zealous in declaring the 
truth, and everlasting Gospel of Christ, in which 
he neither sought nor courted the applause of 
man. On all occasions he laboured with great 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 257 



zeal and diligence, declaring the terror's of God's 
law against the ungodly, and administering con- 
solation to the penitent, by the promises of the 
Gospel. 

He was a man of great faith, and often spoke 
in the power and demonstration of the Spirit, of 
which he was favoured of God in a very extra- 
ordinary manner. The Lord often wrought 
wonders by and through his instrumentality, to 
the conviction, conversion, and sanctification of 
many. And although his language was neither 
learned nor eloquent ; but, on the contrary, 
plain, simple, and illiterate, yet it was frequently 
attended with such Divine power and energy on 
the hearts of the hearers, that they fell before 
him, like men slain in battle by the mighty 
power of God. In him it was clearly manifested 
that the excellency of the power ivas not of man, 
but of God. He spoke not in the wisdom of 
man, but with the power of God. He was 
upward of sixteen years a local preacher in the 
Methodist connection ; but he laboured and 
travelled considerably during that period ; and, 
perhaps, no local preacher was ever known to 
be more useful in the connection. He was 
abundant in labours, in zeal, and in faith. 

In April, 1789, he entered the itinerant 
connection, in which he laboured with his 
usual zeal and diligence ; though often under 
great affliction of body. It appeared that 
wherever he went the Lord was with him, and 
made him an instrument in the conversion of 
sinners. 

17 



258 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT, 



In 1790, he was elected to the office of a 
deacon ; and in 1793 he was ordained an elder ; 
yet so great was his humility and modesty, that 
he never made any mention of either in his 
manuscripts. He travelled and laboured till his 
bodily strength failed him. In May 1795, he 
returned home under bodily affliction, and was 
never afterward able to attend a circuit. 

He was a son of thunder in the ministry ; and 
diligent in attending on the means of grace ; he 
stood firm for the cause of God, reproving, 
warning, and exhorting all that came in his way, 
as " a workman that needed not to be ashamed :" 
and often it was as " bread cast upon the water, 
to be gathered after many days." 

It is not my design to amuse my readers in 
a biographical manner ; yet, as a tribute due to 
the memory of a pious and useful servant of 
God, and for the information and satisfaction 
of God's people, permit me to say, from many 
years' personal acquaintance with him, that, as a ' 
Christian, he was a man who feared God, and 
kept his commandments ; and, as a minister, 
in promulgating the Gospel, he always appeared 
to have an eye single to the glory of God and 
salvation of souls, — an example worthy of imi- 
tation by all the watchmen of Zion. 

Perhaps it may not be amiss to give an ex- j 
tract from the Minutes of Conference for the 
year of our Lord 1796, where we have the tes- 
timony of his brethren in the ministry, showing 
how he stood in the opinion and esteem of 
them : — 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 259 



" Question— Who have died this year ? 

" Answer — Benjamin Abbott, about twenty 
years in the society ;* several years a local 
preacher. Eight or ten years of his life he 
travelled considerably through York, Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. "f He 
was a man of a childlike simplicity, and sin- 
cerity ; of great faith, and unshaken confidence 
in God. Touching his ministry, he was not 
skilled in the refinements of language, or arts 
of elocution ; yet has often been heard to speak 
with the demonstration of the Spirit and with 
great power. He was owned of God as an in- 
strument of convincing, converting, and sancti- 
fying power to many souls, lid laboured with 
great weakness toward the la#t ; and although 
a strong man in body, was brought down to a 
childlike weakness, and lingered out his days 
in pain. He died, August, 1796. Perhaps he 
was one of the wonders of America, no man's 
copy ; an uncommon zealot for the blessed 
work of sanctificauVn, and preached it on all. 
occasions and in all congregations, and what 
was best of all, lived it. He was an innocent, 
holy man ; he was seldom heard to speak about 
any thing but God and religion : his whole soul 
was often overwhelmed with the power of God. 

* In this there is a small mistake : he was in society 
upward of twenty-three years. He was a local preach- 
er better than sixteen years, and a travelling preacher 
better than seven years. He joined society about Feb- 
ruary, 1773, and died August, 1796, — making about 
twenty-three years, six months. 

f This includes part of his travels as a local preacher. 



260 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



He was known to hundreds as a truly primitive 
Methodist preacher ; and a man full of faith and 
the Holy Ghost. His last labours were upon 
the Eastern Shore, where many will remember 
him for years to come ; and will, we hope and 
trust, shout the praises of God and the Lamb 
with him to all eternity. Several revivals have 
taken place by his means ; sometimes upon the 
hearts of the preachers and people : yea, we 
trust the sacred flame still spreads in the much 
favoured peninsula, begun chiefly by his instru- 
mentality. His life was pressed out as at 
every pore of the body : he was brought very 
low before he died, and made perfect through 
suffering." 

It is well known that Mr. Abbott's zeal in 
the cause of God often led him to labour in his 
Master's vineyard, even when under great bodi- 
ly afflictions ; which vere frequently increased 
by his loud and long speaking, till nature seem- 
ed, at times, almost exhausted ; so great was his 
love to, and concern for, the welfare of precious 
souls. This led him to so close an attention 
to his circuit, and punctual attendance on his 
appointments, that he was seldom at home, du- 
ring his travels as an itinerant preacher ; but 
when at home, his zeal and diligence were still 
the same, and his labours were to the edifica- 
tion of the Church : many, on those occasions, 
have witnessed the truth of Solomon's assertion, 
" Iron sharpeneth iron ; so a man sharpeneth 
the countenance of his friend," -Pro v. xxvii, 17. 
For my own part, I have thought that his ap- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 261 



pearance in the congregation was a means of 
giving lite and vigour to the assembly ; at least 
it has been so to me. 

His last appointment stands on the minutes 
for Cecil circuit, state of Maryland ; but he 
laboured that year likewise in Kent. On his 
way to a quarterly meeting, about the first of 
February, 1795, the presiding elder mentioned 
to him, " that the people there thought he had 
power, by faith, to open or shut the gates of 
heaven." Mr. Abbott said to me, when con- 
versing on this subject, " It went through my 
soul like a dagger: I was grieved, for I saw 
that the idea led to idolatry, in ascribing to a 
poor mortal the power which is due to God only. 
I felt as if my usefulness were at an end ; al- 
though I did not discover to brother W , 

the presiding elder, how exceedingly I was hurt, 
nor was he, I believe, sensible of it." They 
attended the quarterly meeting in great harmony, 
and the Master of assemblies was present to the 
joy and consolation of many. At night, Mr. 
Abbott was taken very ill, and never was able 
to attend a circuit as a travelling preacher, or 
scarcely ever to preach afterward ; so that his 
usefulness, indeed, was in one sense at an end. 
I shall here give an account of his illness or 
affliction, according to the best information I 
have been able to obtain. 

He was taken on the 2d or 3d of February, 
1795, with a violent ague, which continued dur- 
ing the night, and was followed by a violent fever 
and pain in his side : a doctor was called in, 



262 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

who blistered him, and gave such other pre- 
scriptions as he thought proper. The doctor 
visited him a few times, and then (all human 
probability of recovery being gone) gave him 
up as a dead man. He lay in this low condi- 
tion about three weeks ; and so intent was his 
mind in the cause of God, and upon the work 
of the ministry, that at times, when light-headed 
through the violence of the fever, he would pray 
and preach, and dismiss the congregation, sup- 
posing himself on his circuit, and tell them, 
that day two weeks they might expect preach- 
ing again. 

One day, several friends being present, and 
apprehending that he was near his end, he was 
asked if he did not think he was dying ; he an- 
swered no : God had not made it known to 
him, and he did not think that he would take 
him out of the world without giving him some 
foresight of it ; but added, I am perfectly re- 
signed to the will of God, either in life or death. 
He has since informed me, that his peace ivas 
as a river, and that the devil was not permitted 
to tempt him during all his illness, for which his 
soul magnified the Most High. 

About the 23d of February he began to mend ; 
but still continued in a rack of pain, which in a 
great measure banished sleep from him. But 
a doctor who was a member of society, went to 
see him, and administered some medicine that 
immediately relieved him, and when he called 
on him next day, found him better, and proposed 
his being moved to his own house ; as the dis- 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 263 



tance and multiplicity of his business prevented 
him from attending him where he then was. I 
regret that I am not, at present, possessed of 
the names of the dear family and the doctor, 
who, together with other friends, were very kind 
to him, many came to see him from far and 
near ; and after he began to mend, so as to 
exercise himself a little, " We had," said he, 
" precious times together, in singing and pray- 
ing." 

He was removed to the doctor's in a carriage, 
without receiving any injury by the journey, 
where he was kindly received. Prayer meet- 
ings were held in the room where he Jay ; and 
the Master of assemblies used to be present in 
the power of his Spirit to the consolation of his 
children. And notwithstanding all his afflictions 
of body, he informed me that he had precious 
and happy times with that dear family ; and that 
he had reason to believe God had deepened his 
work in the hearts of both the doctor and his 
wife. When the doctor was out, his wife gene- 
rally stayed with him in the room, where their 
conversation was about the work of God, and 
his gracious dealings to their souls. It appears 
he was upward of two months at the doctor's, 
where he so far recovered as to be able to walk 
out and to travel a little ; though his cough and 
spitting still continued. He left there about the 
first of May. if my information be correct. 

I find in his own hand writing, the following 
note : from which it appears that he attended 
the quarterly meeting at Dover that spring. 



264 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



The note appears to be written after he left the 
doctor's. 

" The quarterly meeting began May the 

day, and many young converts were there, and 
they had a proper shout in the camp of God ; 
many fell to the floor and cried for mercy, and 
divers of the inhabitants of the town were awa- 
kened. There were three very pious young 
women, who came from Chestertown, and who 
professed that God had sanctified their souls; 
and they lived agreeable to their profession ; 
and divers persons flocked to them to inquire 
the way to glory : they continued in prayer for 
such, every day, all the week. A number were 
converted to God, and eighteen joined society, 
and the old members seemed all on stretch for 
the kingdom. Glory to God for a revival in 
Dover !" 

This is the last sentence that I find penned by 
him. Shortly after he returned home in so low 
a state of health that he was unable to preach, 
and scarcely able to attend a meeting, where he 
spent about two months among his children and 
friends. Having recovered his strength a little, 
in August, 1795, he attended quarterly meeting 
at Murphy's church, on Salem circuit, where 
he gave an exhortation on Saturday ; and the 
Master of assemblies attended his testimony 
with the energy of his Holy Spirit, to the joy 
and consolation of many souls. On Sunday, 
in the love-feast, in his exhortation, he gave 
some account of the work of God in divers 
places ; and being filled with faith and the Holy 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 265 

Ghost, he claimed the promises, and the power 
of the Lord came down upon the congregation 
in such a manner that the noise might be heard 
afar off. Some intreated God for Christ's sake 
to have mercy on their souls ; others shouted 
praises and adoration to the Most High. Se- 
veral lay as in the agonies of death : like David 
their hearts panted, their strength failed, the 
light of their eyes was gone, their strength failed 
because of their iniquity, Psalm xxxviii, 10, or, 
like Daniel, " there remained no strength in 
them," Dan. x, 8. Why should it be thought 
strange, that a rational creature should tremble 
and fall to the earth before God, under a sense 
of his awful presence : Moses informs us that 
the brute on which Balaam rode did so, when 
it saw the angel of God ; and why should not 
man tremble and fall before the mighty power 
of God. It was a day of days to many souls, 
several professed to have found Him of whom 
Moses and the prophets did write, to the joy of 
their souls ; and others, that God had deepened 
the work in them. Mr. Merick, the presiding 
elder, preached, and Mr. Abbott gave an exhor- 
tation, which was attended with power and a 
Divine energy to many. After meeting, he 
retired to the widow Ayres\ where he remained 
for some days, being much broken down. He 
had a desire to attend Bethel quarterly meeting, 
but was not able, . though only about twelve 
miles off. 

Alter this, he spent two or three months 
higher up the state, among his friends and 



266 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

children in the Gospel. In the fall he went to 
Philadelphia, where he spent the winter among 
the friends ; they were very kind to him : in 
particular, Hugh Smith and wife, for whom he 
had a great regard. They had had a long 
acquaintance in that love and fellowship that 
makes glad the city of God, and uniteth the 
hearts of Christians. Their acquaintance com- 
menced at an early period of Methodism, on the 
Salem circuit, where Mr. Smith at that time 
resided, and where Mr. Abbott frequently held 
meetings in the time of the American revolution, 
and for some time afterward. I mention this 
as a tribute of respect due to Mr. Smith and his 
wife, who have been for a number of years as 
pillars in the house of God, and who have borne 
the heat and burden of the day, and who, I trust, 
will not lose their reward in their Father's 
kingdom. But there were other friends also, 
whose kindness and friendly attention he expe- 
rienced, and which he gratefully acknowledged. 

He returned from Philadelphia in the spring 
of 1796, to his son David's, at Upper Alloway's 
creek, where he remained a few days. Being 
very poorly, and having a particular desire that 
I should assist him in some things relative to 
the manuscript of his life, he sent his son David 
with a request that I would go and spend some 
time with him for that purpose. But the cir- 
cumstances of my family were such, at that 
time, that I could not leave home for so long a 
space ; especially as Mr. Abbott was in so low 
a state of health, that he was not able to attend 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 267 



to the business above an hour or two in a day ; 
therefore, I requested him to inform his father, 
that if he could come to my house, that I would 
endeavour to assist him in the business. Ac- 
cordingly, he left his son's to come to my house ; 
but on his way he stopped at his friend Judge 
Smith's, near Quintin's bridge, to refresh and 
rest himself, where he was taken very ill, and 
lay at the point of death for several days. He 
was treated with the utmost care and respect. 
Judge Smith has since informed me, that during: 
his illness he often expressed an uneasiness 
that the account of his life and labours was not 
completed to his satisfaction ; and that he 
lamented that he had so long delayed it. How- 
ever, it pleased God to spare him a little longer; 
and as soon as he was able he came to my house, 
in the town of Salem, about the 7th of April* 
1796, where he remained some time in so poor 
a state of health, that he was seldom able to 
perform family duty ; or even to sit up while it 
was performed. Twice he attended public 
1 meeting ; at the first, he baptized two children, 
gave an exhortation suitable to the occasion, 
and related some little account of the work of 
God ; the second, and last that ever he attended 
was at the funeral of Mrs. Paul, who had died 
triumphant in the faith. After the funeral sermon 
was preached, by Mr. Morford, he arose and 
gave an exhortation, and particularly addressed 
himself to Mr. W., a man whom he had loved 
as himself, and who had, through the subtilty 
of Satan, departed from better knowledge. In 



268 life of benjamin abbott. 

his exhortation he called to mind the happy 
hours that he had spent under his roof; how 
much he (Mr. W.) had done for the cause of 
God ; and how often they had rejoiced together, 
as fellow labourers in Christ Jesus ; and then 
warned him, in the most solemn manner, of his 
impending danger, in the love and fear of God, 
until tears flowed, his strength failed, and he was 
unable to speak any longer. 

While the interment of the corpse took place, 
Mr. Abbott retired to a friend's house ; unable 
to attend it. After the interment, Mr. W. ad- 
dressed the audience on the occasion and 
appeared angry, apprehending that he had been 
ill used. I spoke to him on the occasion, and 
endeavoured to reason the case with him ; but to 
very little purpose, for he apprehended that I had 
been the instigator of the supposed affront, and 
appeared as much offended with me, as with 
Mr. Abbott. After my return from the interment, 
I went and informed Mr. Abbott of the matter : 
" Why," said he, " if I were able to take my horse 
and go and see him, I should not have made use 
of that opportunity ; but as I am not able to go 
and see him, I was convinced that if I let that 
opportunity pass, I should never have another ; 
and I thought it was my duty to speak as I did : 
therefore I leave the event to God. I am sure 
that it cannot hurt him, or do him any injury ; for 
a man that is posting in the broad way to damna- 
tion, cannot be easily worsted. !" said he, 
" I have seen the time that we have rejoiced to- 
gether as fellow labourers in Christ, and it 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 269 



grieves my soul to see that the devil has got the 

advantage of him !" On Mr. W 's return 

home, he wrote a letter to Mr. Abbott on the occa- 
sion, justifying himself and his conduct. How- 
ever, the Spirit of God fastened it on him, as a 
nail in a sure place ; for at our first quarterly 
meeting, held at Salem, after Mr. Abbott's death, 
in the love-feast, Mr. W. arose and openly de- 
clared that God had healed all his backslidings, 
and that he had made his servant, father Abbott, 
an instrument in his Divine hand to bring about 
his restoration. I have been the more particu- 
lar in this relation, because some of our friends 
were ready to disapprove of Mr. Abbott, for 
making use of what they thought a very unsuita- 
ble opportunity ; but it had its desired effect : 
likewise to encourage others to a faithful dis- 
charge of their duty, both in season and out of sea- 
son ; and in so doing not to fear men or devils ; 
but in all things to keep an eye single to the 
glory of God and good of souls. " In the morn- 
ing sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold 
not thine hand : for thou knowest not whether 
shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they 
both shall be alike good," Eccles. xi, 6. 

He was, after this, a few times able to offi- 
ciate in family worship, in which he had near 
access to the throne of grace, and was truly 
solemn, weighty, and profitable. He was ever 
ready to join us with all his heart and strength 
in the performance of that solemn duty ; al- 
though often languishing upon his bed of afflic- 
tion while it was performed. 



270 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



He was at a certain day very desirous of 
having some things penned, that had lain heavy 
upon his mind : but being rather more fatigued 
than usual, " We must give it over," said he, 
" until to-morrow ; and I thank my God, that 
in two hours more, with your assistance, I shall 
be ready to die." Next day, upon finishing the 
business, he arose and walked across the floor 
several times ; and in a transport of joy cried 
out, "I thank God, I am ready to die ! I have 
nothing to do but to die !" 

About the 1st of June, having recovered a 
little strength, and finding himself a little better, 
he left my house in order to visit my brother's 
family, some other friends, and his own children ; 

but upon hearing of the death of Mr. B , a 

man who had resided in my house, he returned, 

and attended the funeral. The Rev. L S , 

who had been called by the connections of the 
deceased to preach the funeral sermon, observed 
in his discourse, that " death was the king of 
terrors, and that he made cowards of us all." 
After sermon, Mr. Abbott took an opportunity 
to converse with Mr. S. on the subject, and said 
that he did not believe the doctrine : for " per- 
fect love casteth out fear, and he thai feareth is 
not made perfect in love ;" and that he believed 
a state attainable in this life, through grace, that 
would enable us to shout victory to God and 
the Lamb, " through the valley of the shadow 
of death ;" nay, through death itself, and " fear 
no evil." Also, that he had seen many leave 
this world in the greatest transport of joy 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT* 271 

imaginable; and in one or two instances, that 
he did believe they had seen the angels of God 
with their bodily eyes, before their departure. 
" And for my part," said he, " I can call God 
to witness, that death is no terror to me ! I am 
ready to meet my God, if it were now !" 

That night he was taken very ill, and con- 
tinued so for some days ; but in the course of 
a week he appeared to be something better, and 
at the intercession of his son David, he con- 
sented to be moved from my house to his. In 
a few days after, I visited him, attended by the 
Rev. R. Searl : we found him resigned to the 
will of God, and happy in his love. When 
about to take our leave of him, " Come," said 
he, " brethren, give us of your oil before you 
go :" the family being called together, Mr. 
Searl addressed the throne of grace, and we 
had a solemn, weighty time, and, blessed be 
God, his lamp had not gone out, nor yet grown 
dim. His lamp appeared to be bright, burning, 
and well trimmed, and he had a full supply of 
oil in his vessel, like the wise virgins mentioned 
in Matt, xxv, 4. 

On Friday, the 12th of August, my brother 
went to see him, and found him very poorly, 
to whom he said, " Brother Ffirth, I am going 
to die, and to-morrow you must go to Philadel- 
phia, for brother M'Claskey, to come and preach 
my funeral sermon to which my brother 
replied, Father Abbott, you may continue for 
some time yet, as the time of your death is un- 
certain : " No," said he, " I shall die before 



272 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



you would get back from Philadelphia, unless you 
should travel in the night my brother replied, 
It will not answer to go before your decease. 
" Why," said he, " I shall die, and I do not 
wish my body kept until it is offensive : you 
know the weather is warm, and the distance is 
considerable :" that is true, replied my brother, 
but if I were to go to Philadelphia for brother 
M'Claskey, to preach your funeral sermon, and 
you not dead, the friends would laugh at me, 
and he would not come. " Ah !" said he, " it 
may be so ; I never thought of that ; perhaps 
it will be best to stay until I am dead." 

Next day, observing a visible alteration in 
him, my brother concluded to tarry with him 
until his exit : during the day he continued in 
a rack of excruciating pain, which he bore with 
a Christian patience and resignation. He was 
happy in God, and rejoiced at his approaching 
dissolution ; and seemed much engaged in his 
soul with God. He appeared to possess his 
rational faculties to his last moments ; and for 
some time previous thereunto he was delivered 
from that excruciating pain, to the joy of his 
friends ; his countenance continued joyful, hea- 
venly, and serene. His last sentence, that was 
intelligibly articulated, was, " Glory to God ! I 
see heaven sweetly opened before me !" 

After this, his speech so much failed that he 
could not be distinctly understood, only now 
and then a word, as, See ! — see ! — glory ! — 
glory ! &c. And for my own part, I firmly 
believe that he saw the angels of God, visibly 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



273 



with his eyes, before his exit ; who were sent 
of God to convey his soul to the realms of bliss. 
That he saw something, which he wished the 
by-standers to see, was evident : for looking 
on them, he often cried out, See ! — see ! — point- 
ing with his hand toward the foot of his bed ; 
and then " glory ! glory ! glory !" clapping his 
hands, and in the greatest raptures, or ecstacies 
of joy imaginable. Thus he continued until 
nature was so exhausted, that in attempting to 
clap his hands, he seldom hit one hand against 
the other. Through faith he was enabled to 
shout victory to God and the Lamb ! The 
sting of death was plucked out ; and death was 
as a messenger of peace to him. It was to him 
only like a gate, through which he had to pass 
to glory ; thus in a triumph of faith, and rilled 
with the Holy Ghost, he departed this life, with- 
out sigh or groan, about 10 o'clock, on Sunday, 
the 14th of August, 1796, aged about 64 years. 
On the Tuesday following, he was buried in the 
Methodist burial ground, in Salem, New J ersey. 
The funeral was attended by a large number of 
his Christian brethren, acquaintance, and fellow 
citizens. The Rev. John M'Claskey delivered 
a pathetic and moving discourse suited to the 
solemnity of the occasion : at the close of which, 
the Rev. Nathaniel Harris, of the Presbyterian 
Church, put up a prayer, and addressed the 
throne of grace in behalf of the human family 
at large, and in particular for his Church and 
people that had sustained so great a loss : but 
our loss, no doubt, is his eternal gain. 



274 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



O happy exit ! though the body must 

Now mingle with its native mother dust ; 

Yet the bright seraphim, without delay, 

Escort his soul along the ethereal way, 

To realms, and thrones, and joys of endless day! 

Angels and saints, they hail him as he flies ! 

Lo ! " Welcome, Abbott !" now each cherub cries , 

And hail and shout him welcome to the skies ! 

Now, hallelujahs to redeeming love, 

Resound and echo through the worlds above ! 

Glory to God, they sing, in anthems new ! 

Abbott is there, and joins the chorus too. 

It may be worthy of notice, that it was the 
desire of Mr. Abbott, for several years, during 
his travels, that Providence might so order it, 
that when he died, his body might be buried in 
the Methodist meeting house yard, at Salem, in 
New Jersey. After a severe illness, in which 
he had been brought to the jaws of death, he 
recovered in a measure and returned home ; 
and in a sermon, he observed on this subject, 
" I thought, when I was on my way home, 
if it were the will of God, that I might, on my 
return, end my days and lay my bones among 
you, my soul would leap for joy ; but the will of 
I my God be done." It appears that the Lord 
granted him his request, for he died at home, and 
was buried in the yard where he had desired. 

The following occurrence, which took place in 
the course of his life, may deserve attention. 

He arose early one morning, in consequence 
of a dream or vision of the night, and went to 

the house of Mr. T , a man of repute and 

charac ter, and an orderly member of the Quaker 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 275 

Church, not knowing any thing was the matter 
with him ; but upon inquiring of Mr. T. how 
he was, he answered that he found himself rather 
unwell ; he then informed him, that he had a 
message from God unto him, which had been 
revealed unto him in a vision of the night ; and 
that he had come in the love and fear of the 
Lord, to warn him to set his house in order, for 
that he should die and not live, and that his days 
were few. Mr. T. received his message with 
a Christian fortitude and solemnity as became 
the occasion : they spent some time together, 
conversing on the one thing needful. Mr. T.'s 
complaint increased, and at his request, Mr. 
Abbott frequently visited him during his illness, 
which continued about eight or ten days : then 
he bade adieu to this vale of tears, and I doubt 
not but his soul rests in peace. 

[The following lines were written on hearing Mr, 
Abbott preach a farewell sermon (which proved to be 
his last) in Penn's-neck meeting house, where he had 
been an instrument, in the hand of God, not only in 
laying the foundation of the temporal, but also of the 
spiritual Church ; from 2 Cor. xiii, 11, " Finally, bre- 
thren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be 
of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and 
peace shall be with you."] 

Be perfect ; holiness pursue ; 

In love be sure to dwell ; 
And God, through Christ shall comfort you ; 

So brethren all farewell. 

&e of one mind, give God your hearts, 

And of his mercies tell ; 
Which he through grace to you imparts : 
£o brethren all farewell. 



276 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 



Now live in peace, for Christ is near : 

In love, strive to excel ; 
The God of peace shall soon appear : 

So brethren all farewell. 

The God of love and peace adore. 
And all things shall be well ; 

We in this life shall meet no more 
So brethren all farewell. 



[The following is a short account given of Benjamin 
Abbott, by Hugh Smith, in a letter to Ezekicl Cooper.] 

Philadelphia, October 7, 1801. 

My Dear Friend, — Whereas you are now 
publishing the " Experience and Gospel La- 
bours of the late Rev. Benjamin Abbott ; and 
a Narrative of his Life and Death, by John 
Frirth ;" from a conversation which I had with 
you, some days ago, relative to my acquaint- 
ance with, and knowledge of Mr. Abbott, I 
take up my pen to communicate to you a few 
particulars, which are in my recollection, re- 
specting him. It is very certain that I cannot, 
at present, accurately call to mind the particu- 
lar circumstances relative to a great variety of 
events which I well knew in his life ; never 
having made a minute of them, nor expecting, 
ever to write them, they are so far gone from 
my memory, that it would take some consider- 
able time to recollect, and arrange them in any 
methodical order. 

In the year of our Lord 1776, I first became 
intimately acquainted with Mr. Abbott. At that 
time he was converted to God, and a local 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 277 

preacher in the Methodist connection. We 
then lived near neighbours, met in the same 
class, and had meetings regularly at his house 
or mine, so that we were often' together. From 
the time of my first acquaintance with him, as 
above mentioned, I always took him to be a 
sincere, zealous, and good man. He was in- 
strumental, in the hand of God, to the convic- 
tion and conversion of a number of our neigh- 
bours, who turned from their wicked courses to 
serve the living and the true God. I have 
known him in the lime of harvest, to take his 
men from the field to go with him to meeting, 
and yet pay them for the full day's work ; so 
great was his zeal and desire for the people to 
attend the worship of almighty God. He was, 
in my opinion, a man of the greatest faith I 
ever was acquainted with. He was an agree- 
able neighbour and a social friend ; plain in his 
manners and deportment ; pleasant in his con- 
versation ; meek and humble in his spirit. I 
do not recollect that I ever saw him even appear 
to be out of temper ; so great was the work 
grace had done for him. 

He appeared, as far as I could judge, to 
travail in spirit continually for precious souls. 
He, with great zeal and faith, used to urge con- 
viction, repentance, and conversion, on the un- 
godly ; and among professors, he, with equal 
warmth of zeal and love, would insist on sanc- 
tification ; and the Lord remarkably blessed his 
labours. I recollect several meetings, that I 
was at, where professors experienced the bless- 



278 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

ing of sanctification, under his ministry. The 
Divine power of sovereign grace attended his 
ministry more wonderfully and constantly, than 
any one I ever was acquainted with, to the con- 
viction and conversion of sinners, and to the 
sanctification of believers. He worked hard 
at his worldly business ; but would punctually 
attend public and private worship, prayer meet- 
ings, society, and other meetings during the 
week. I have been with him when, after work- 
ing hard, we have walked a mile to the creek, 
then, after crossing, walk a mile and a half 
farther to hold meeting ; and after returning, the 
same week to walk more than three miles to 
another place to hold meeting ; beside, every 
Sabbath he would attend at one place or ano- 
ther. Through his instrumentality there was 
a great reformation among the people. 

He used frequently to tell me of his life, and 
manner of living during his unregenerate state. 
While he was an apprentice in Philadelphia, he 
was a wicked lad, associated with bad company, 
&c. He used to quarrel and fight frequently. 
At times, by fighting, he has had his clothes so 
bloody, that he has stripped them off and washed 
them in the night at the pumps in the streets ; 
and frequently, instead of going home, he used 
to sleep in the Quaker burying ground, between 
the graves ; feeling at that time no terror from 
the living or the dead, by night or by day : he 
then feared not God nor regarded man. When 
he became a man he was particularly noted for 
a great fighter; and but few excelled him in 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 2*79 

divers kirid of vice. He has been known to 
leave his business, and his dinner,' and to walk 
several miles, to meet a noted fighter,' in order 
to show his manhood and bravery in that line. 
He frequently "had to appear before the courts 
of justice on account of those wicked courses ; 
and he generally plead guilty. At one of those 
courts, a certain gentleman, to whose care pub- 
lic peace and justice was committed, took a 
private opportunity to prevail on him to turn out 
and fight a certain man who was there, for 
which he treated him with a bowl of punch. — 
Surely, his conversion was a remarkable in- 
stance of sovereign grace and Divine mercy f 
The lion became the lamb ! The hero in the 
service of the devil, became a bold veteran in 
the service of God ! 

After his conversion, numbers had old grudges? 
against him, and sought to ensnare him divers 
ways ; but, by grace, he stood firm, and im- 
movably attached to the cause of religion, main- 
taining a bold, uniform, and circumspect life. — 
On a certain occasion, after his conversion, 
he had to appear before the grand jury, and 
before they entered on the business for which 
he was called, he said to the jury, " Let as first 
go to prayer /" He prayed, they had a so- 
lemn time, and one of the jury was struck 
under conviction. He was much persecuted 
by the ungodly ; but although his oppositions 
were many, he was nevertheless remarkably 
useful in his ministry, and in visiting the sick 
and distressed. 



280 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 

There used to be great crying out and 
shouting at his meetings, and such power used 
to attend his word, that the people were known 
to fall under it, as though they were shot or cut 
down by a sword. At one of those powerful 
times, where the people cried out and shouted 
aloud, in cries of prayer and praise, a certain 
travelling preacher, being then present, strove 
to stop him and silence the people, and bore his 
testimony against it ; but the work still went 
on in a wonderful manner ; and the preacher, 
afterward, was very sorry for his opposition, 
and acknowledged his error, believing that it 
was the power of God. I recollect a certain 
instance, when Mr. Abbott had been very sick, 
and was recovering a little, the friends in the 
neighbourhood went to a quarterly meeting 
some distance off, and I went with them, leaving 
Mr. A. too unwell to go with us ; but after we 
were gone, he had his horse saddled and fol- 
lowed. I was much surprised when I saw him 
come, for I had told several that he was sick. 
After R. G. had preached, he stood up in the 
pulpit, and the first words he spoke were of his 
sickness, his apparent inability to come to the 
meeting, and of his impressions to have his 
horse saddled to see if he could ride. " But," 
said he, " when I put my foot in the stirrup I 
felt the power of God come upon me, and I was 
enabled to come," &c. As he spoke these 
words, the mighty power of God came wonder- 
fully upon the assembly ; and I felt, in a moment 
as though there was an open expanse before 



LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOTT. 281 

like eternity of space ; I lost sight of every 
thing else, and fell suddenly to the floor, and 
cried to God for mercy: this was when I was 
under conviction, previous to my conversion to 
God. There was a glorious and wonderful 
time at that meeting. 

I am confidently persuaded, that many will 
praise God to all eternity, for his goodness in 
raising up Benjamin Abbott as a minister in the 
Church of Christ. His labours were crowned 
with many seals to his ministry; he was an 
instrument in turning many to righteousness. — 
After he sat out to travel as an itinerant preacher 
he laboured in sundry circuits, till he was worn 
down under his toil and affliction. When he 
was unable to travel any longer, he came to 
Philadelphia, to spend the winter with his 
friends ; he stayed considerably at my house, 
and I found that he still possessed the same 
simplicity of manners, the same zeal, faith, and 
concern for souls, that he had done for twenty 
years ; but his bodily health and strength were 
exhausted. He retained a clear and strong 
evidence of his acceptance with God ; and 
appeared sensible that his end drew nigh. He 
had remarkable patience and resignation, which 
was visible and wonderful to the family; he 
appeared all love, and was heavenly in his con- 
versation. I felt a strong desire, that if it were 
the will of God, he might die at my house. I 
should have esteemed it an honour conferred 
on me by Providence, had so eminent a saint, 
and servant of God, ended his days under my 



282 LIFE OF BENJAMIN ABBOfT. 

roof. But he removed in the spring of If 96 
to the Jerseys, where he lingered out a few 
months in weakness and pain of body, but in 
peace and happiness of soul : then " closed his 
eyes to see his God." " Mark the perfect man, 
the end of that man is peace. Let me die the 
death of the righteous, and my last end be like 
his." 

Were I to take some time for recollection, 
and to minute down the occurrences which were 
in my knowledge of Mr. Abbott, and to arrange 
them in order, I believe I might write a volume 
of interesting circumstances. In a word, he 
was a wonderful man, a great Christian, and a 
useful minister in the Church of Christ; and 
now (I have no doubt) he shines like a bright 
star in glory. 

I am, my dear friend, yours, &c, 

Hugh Smith. 



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